Is there someone who sits nearby in your cube (or office) neighborhood who is constantly coming to talk to you, harass you, share stories, or otherwise annoy you and/or your work friends? Someone who wants to be your friend but you're just not feeling them? Someone who has an infinite number of stories which interest you about as much as watching paint dry? Or maybe this person is someone who is interested in you and you don't feel the same. Do you and your work friends constantly dread these interactions and wish you could find a way to make them stop? Well, here's a fun a little game you can play to get him or her out of your cube/office and back into their own area quickly and without any awkwardness:
When the person starts making their rounds, be patient and give them a minute to see if it will just be a casual and quick interaction. When the interaction starts going on for too long and becomes awkward or painful, have one of your friends call the person on the phone. They will hear the phone and quickly leave your space...if they don't, repeat the process until they do. It might take a few phone calls sometimes, but you have to be patient.
My friends and I have used this technique and it works--it also helps pass the time at work, much like our "Real World: Corporate America" game. And an added bonus is this: If the person bothering you is a spaz, they will get really animated and crazy each time they run to their phone only to find a 'hang up' or 'missed call' and no message left. We employed this technique on a crazy young man we worked with who was always hitting on all of us. He was like a little chihuahua or other type of ankle biter dog, so he was always all fired up and yipping and yapping. He would go INSANE when he would run to his phone for nothing! So, in addition to saving ourselves, we also got some good laughs each time he freaked out about it.
The keys to success in this game are as follows:
1. Make sure you and your friends are all on the same page. Make sure you are aware of the "storytellers" whereabouts at peak times (For example: Monday mornings are particularly trying as he/she will probably have many stories to share from two days apart. Also, Friday afternoons can also be risky because he/she might be anticipating separation anxiety and will want to share as much time as possible with you before being away for over 48 hours). You have to make sure you have each others backs.
2. If things become really unmanageable and the visiting hours become far too frequent, attempt to throw the planned visit off course before it happens: If you hear the person roaming around, make the call prior to the point where he/she plants him/herself in your doorway, cube, etc.
3. Make sure whoever is calling HANGS UP before the "storyteller" is able to see their phone (if they have caller ID). You do not want him/her to find out what is going on or you may NEVER be able to get rid of them....or maybe they'll be offended and never speak to you again...which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, right? Hmmm...maybe tip #3 isn't that important after all!
-KC Jones
*Big Ran note: we have a broad in our office that will comment on EVERYTHING if she walks by, especially when a group of us are having lunch. I always egg her on to keep making dumb comments about what is going on. I mean she comments on everything, so I might as well push her further toward the loony bin where her irrational thoughts will surely put her one day. Hey, you've got to laugh or you'll just cry.
*Hey Big Ran: I applaud your use of the word "broad"....that word is one of the most underrated, underused words in the English language.
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