How to Deal With a Boss Who Talks Too Much

How to Deal With a Boss Who Talks Too MuchHow to Deal With a Boss Who Talks Too MuchA typical conversation with my boss usually goes a little like thisMe Hi, I have a quick question about the report you asked me to write.Him Sure, let me just send this email. Ive been working on this all day and just finished- can you believe it? Im just so exhausted we have so much going on as we get ready for the summer trade shows. And to add to it all, Im trying to sell my house, which is an absolute nightmare. And.And it doesnt end. As much as I try to nod along in feigned interest, what Im really wondering is how I got caught up in an hour-long conversation when I had one simple question to ask. Instead of getting in, getting my answer, and getting my work done, I get stuck in a roundabout conversation that ends up covering everything from what my boss did over the weekend to his never-ending to-do list (which, frankly, would be much shorter if he didnt talk so much).Dealing with a boss who tal ks too much can be a sticky situation. On one hand, getting the info you need- and quickly- will help you do your job better, which will help him do his job better. But blatantly pointing out his less-than-helpful tendency to over-talk wont exactly get you on his list of favorite employees. As Ive adjusted to my talkative manager, Ive learned some tips that make day-to-day life much easier. Try these four so you can get what you need- and still keep the peace.1. Email When PossibleObviously, email isnt the ideal vehicle for complicated instructions or a coaching session with a lot of back-and-forth questions and answers. But emailing relatively simple questions and updates (e.g., Who would be a good resource for help with some abverkauf numbers? or Can you send me a list of customer contacts for testimonials?) can save you a lot of wasted time. Instead of enduring a long, rambling conversation (that may or may not actually end in an answer to your issue), you can sort through your m anagers musings in an email- and you andrang a much lower risk of your boss getting to the end of a winding thought and asking, What was your question again? 2. Preface the Conversation With a Time LimitTo stress that you dont have time for a long, drawn-out talk, mention a set time constraint at the beginning of the conversation. You could, for example, strategically stop by your managers office on your way to a meeting then, let her know immediately that you only have 10 minutes, but you were hoping she had time for a quick question. Or, catch your boss when you know hes on his way to a meeting (office stalking is usually pretty easy with shared team calendars) and ask if you can walk and talk as he heads to the conference roomKnowing that you only have a limited amount of time will help your manager get to the point- rather than assuming he or she can take all the time in the world to answer your question.3. Use Smart Body LanguageWhen youve been listening to your boss for a litt le too long, you can use some clever body language to convey that you need to get to the point- quickly.To encourage this before the conversation even starts, when you pop by your managers office, remain standing. This will convey that youre in somewhat of a hurry- rather than settling in to your managers extra chair, which can signal that you have plenty of time to chat. If youre already engaged in conversation and it grows long or off track, shifting in your seat or uncrossing and re-crossing your legs can signal that youve lost some interest in the topic and need to switch gears. Or, closing your notebook or laptop can signal that youre preparing to leave and the conversation needs to wind down- which can help you segue back to the reason why you came to your boss office in the first place (e.g., Before I go, can you confirm that the design is on the right track?).4. Interrupt (Just a Little)Interrupting your boss probably sounds like a terrible idea. But hear me out Done sparing ly- and respectfully- it can be an effective tool to focus a winding conversation. Simply listening and nodding, on the other hand, can encourage him or her to continue jumping from subject to subject.Say, for example, you went to your manager for some advice about how to approach writing a press release- and now, hes on a tangent, listing all the meetings hes supposed to attend this week. When he comes to the end of a thought (and before he can move on to another, even less related subject), interrupt Jim? Sorry to interrupt, but you mentioned earlier that itd be a good idea to first contact a sales rep internally to get some background information. Ive done that- what should my next step be? By actively bringing the conversation back to the original topic, this can actually make your boss more aware of how off track he has gotten and help him re-focus.A talkative boss can be a great conversation partner for lunch or after-work drinks. But he or she can be more of a hindrance when youre on a deadline and need to get your work done. While you may not be able to put a complete stop to this tendency, you can better manage it with these few simple tricks.Tell us How do you deal with a boss who talks too much?Photo of man talking courtesy of Shutterstock.