Technique

[Flamingo]

How do you politely get rid of co-workers who come into your office and talk too much?

[Shipstabber]

Two words - silent but deadly.

[bluedolphin]

Give them little tasks to do when they come in .....

ask them could they stay back at work to give u a dig out on some of ur workload....

try to borrow money....

make ur office quite uncomfortable to be in for visitors...

show them family photos and explain in detail where and how and who and what and how much and why and when ....

quote from the bible during their monologues ......and then ask them to hold on while u look it up ...to see if u have got it right.....

[ezapf]

When he begins to talk ask, "Is this a long story?"

[stoo_pid]

pick up the phone & call someone.

[Hayhoe]

shart (see funny place names)

[CiderMonkey]

just carry on with your work and pretend you're really engrossed in it. Don't look at them or chat back. if needs be, give one word answers and hope they get the message!

[smudge]

I had an office of my own & when staff used to knock to come in to see me for something specific, then try to strike up a conversation about something else & I was very busy, I used to turn my head to look at the clock & say "Is that the time- must crack on", it worked every time!

[zgma]

Say "I'm really busy right now - can I come talk to you after work?"... and if you don't really want to talk after work, you can either pretend you have to rush off, or pretend to still be too busy to talk when they're leaving for the day.

 

I have a very talkative co-worker, but she responds pretty well to me just saying flat out "I would love to hear your story but I am swamped - sorry!"

[Bangkok]

Depends on their personality.  Sometimes I can be blunt (go away, I'm busy and you should be), sometimes I try to be subtle (sorry, I'm busy, perhaps you can help and we can chat later)