How To Avoid Idling at Working
Strategies to keep storytellers at bay when it’s work time
My previous article, “This Was Killing My Productivity at Work”, outlined the detrimental effects on productivity that idle chatting and storytelling can have at work.
What I didn’t do, however, was provide strategies on how to avoid these so-called storytellers. I promised you a follow-up article to do just that and this is it.
If you haven’t read the first article please do so here.
Now that you’ve caught up, here are 8 effective ways to repel storytellers from distracting us and also how to prevent ourselves from becoming storytellers.
Let’s jump right in:
1. Mindfulness: learn to recognize when you are caught up in idle chatting
This is the most important defense against storytelling simply because if you are not cognizant of what is taking place, you will have no clue that you are being sucked into something that you should be pulling against.
Picture the following scenario:
You are at the beach lying on a floating device in the water. Your eyes are closed as you absorb the warm rays of the sun which seem to be at the perfect temperature. You are in total relaxation as the gentle waves bob you up and down. You feel a random complement of coolness from mists of seawater from time to time. You allow yourself to doze off in this state of bliss and get the most rejuvenating sleep of your life.
Wait, why does no one do this?
Oh yeah, because our minds are cognizant of the fact that we would wake up adrift in the middle of the ocean with no sign of land in sight, dehydrated, surrounded by hungry sharks and maybe a small serving of skin cancer to top it off.
This is the same way in which we need to be cognizant of the fact that no matter how enticing storytelling is, we have to resist it.
Don’t worry this is my last use of the word cognizant.
2. Chat Blockers- use tools to repel storytellers
Storytelling is a distraction that we need to distract ourselves from.
We also need to repel the storytellers from approaching us.
The most popular example of a tool that can accomplish this is a pair of earbuds. Whether or not you’re listening to anything, put them in. They act as a great deterrent to the coworker who wants to talk about the latest Netflix series that’s taking the globe by storm.
The earbuds also remind the wearer that “Hey, you’re trying to get some work done so don’t be the one to start any idle chatting”. And I don’t mean listening to a looped audio saying it.
Depending on your work environment, other tools that can assist to distract you from your distractors are loud music, a “Do not disturb” sign or simply turning your back.
3. Kill Ping- for those of you unfamiliar with the blackberry era, I simply mean. get rid of cell phone notifications
One of the most overpowering storytellers is social media.
The first recognized social media site is said to be Six Degrees, but when I became familiar with social media it was with MySpace.
Yeah I’m that old.
Now there are — some say hundreds, some say thousands — but there are enough social media platforms and notifications to keep you distracted for a few lifetimes.
You have to put a cap on this need to keep up to date with the latest trending video.
What I do is put all my social media apps into one folder, turn off notifications and only check them at scheduled times. This saves me a lot of time which I use to get valuable work done.
Email notifications can also be very distracting. It is very easy to spend the majority of your time answering unimportant emails rather than working on priority tasks, especially if the task is not enjoyable.
Have your email notifications turned off if needs be. Ask your contacts to call you if they sent an email that needs urgent attention.
4. Time Limits- set time limits for each of your tasks
Your calendar, along with reminders and alarms, can be a great help in keeping you on track with your priority tasks.
Schedule your tasks and give yourself time limits in which to complete each one.
When you know you have a limited time in which to complete a task you tend to be more focused. It is this same level of focus that allows you to complete an assignment given three weeks ago in one night.
When you are that focused you tend to block out all external distractions. Sometimes just that look of focus on your face is enough to prevent “Talking Tom” from approaching you with the news that can’t wait. Spoiler alert: “Diddy did it.”
5. Be a Bee- stay beezee
I do not know how insect minds work but I don’t expect to see a butterfly approaching a bee and asking it to chill for a minute to check out the new ladybug in the tree next door. He might but I don’t think the bee would be up for it. After all, he only has eyes for his queen.
There are various characters in every workplace. Two notable ones are the person who does nothing all day and the one who is always on the move. Try to be closer to the one who keeps on “Working! Working! Working!” This reputation will tell time wasters to leave you alone.
Do not, however, just run around in circles like a headless chicken. Do meaningful work that keeps you focused on an end goal. After that is completed, enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and then move on to the task that is next on your priority list.
6. Hide- avoid being seen by storytellers
There are still some instances where there is one storyteller who lacks that part of the brain that would cause others to take a hint and realize when they are not welcomed.
If you do have one of these special cases then you may have to avoid them.
Work from a secluded area with no distractors or distraction. If you are so privileged, lock your office door. An open-door policy is usually best but sometimes you just have to lock things down for the sake of the greater good.
7. Speak Up- let your distractors know how you feel
When all else fails you might just have to burst a few bubbles; hurt a few feelings; leave a few scars.
No, you don’t have to be that harsh but the cat has to come out of the bag.
Some people are very thin-skinned and might take offense to what you have to say but sometimes we just have to take that risk and brace for the storm.
Find the right time and place. Do it when only the two of you are present so it does not seem like you are trying to show him up.
You can take the route of letting the individual know that you enjoy their conversation but because of this, you get distracted and end up getting nothing done. This affects your performance and at the end of the day risks your job.
If she cannot respect that then she is a selfish person who does not deserve a second of your time anyway.
To be honest, this should probably be number one, but then it would eliminate the need for the other tips and I’d only have a one minute article so… yeah.
8. Socialize- allow storytellers to have their allotted times
This discussion is not to teach you to be “the Grinch who stole work fun”; it is rather to teach you how to stay focused and not unintentionally waste your days.
There is a time and place for everything and balance is always a necessity in every system- unless you secretly want it to topple.
You will engage in non-work-related conversations occasionally. Just try to keep them short.
It is also good to have pre and post-work socializing, as well as during your breaks. This allows you to learn a lot about your team members and pick up hints on how to work better together.
If you have the power, plan socials or trips for your team a few times a year to build cohesion.
Just remember to enforce the fact that work time is work time.
So there you have it, eight effective ways to avoid idle chatting at work. Let me know if you have any additional strategies to avoid idle talkers.
Now get back to work!
No, I’m just kidding. Work can wait. Go on to read a few more of my posts.
