Does the Person Have the Time and Interest to Talk?
Even if your shift has ended or not started yet, or you are on a break, remember that other people may need to focus on their work. It’s important to ask them if they have time for a personal conversation.
Sometimes, however, co-workers may not actually say the words “I can’t talk right now.” Instead, they hope that you can see for yourself that it’s not a good time.
Let’s explore these pictures of an employee’s body language, or non-verbal signals, to determine whether she is open to personal conversation.
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In
this photo, the employee looks very busy and stressed out. She is not making
eye contact with you. Now would NOT be a good time for personal conversation.
In fact, even if you have a work-related question, think about whether the answer can wait, or if someone else may be able to help you. |
 |
In
this photo, the employee is talking on the telephone and taking notes. She is
not making eye contact with you. Now would NOT be a good time for personal
conversation.
If you have a work-related question, wait quietly and patiently until she has finished her call, then ask if she has time to help you. |
 |
In
this photo, the employee has turned her body toward you and is smiling. She
looks relaxed and friendly, and may be able to spend a minute or two having a
personal conversation and/or answering a work-related question.
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Here are some tips for figuring out whether or not someone will be receptive to conversation.
- A person who is READY TO TALK:
- Makes eye contact with you.
- Smiles and says “hello.”
- Begins a conversation with you.
- Responds to your conversation starter in an engaged or detailed way.
- A person who is NOT READY TO TALK:
- Doesn’t look up from the computer.
- Is on the telephone.
- Is talking to someone else.
- Is walking very quickly to get somewhere in a hurry.
- Makes brief eye contact then looks away.
- Is working on something.
- Puts a finger over his or her mouth.
- Shakes his or her head.
- Gives one-word answers or vaguely responds with “uh-huh” or the like.
- If you’re unsure, you can ask, “Do you have a minute?” If the person says “no” or shakes his or her head, you should move on.
Remember: Even if a co-worker is interested in talking, be sure to keep the interaction brief and focused on appropriate topics. See our “Conversations with Your Co-Workers: What You Need to Know About Chatting at Work” post for more information.
Is the Person Enjoying Our Conversation?
Once you decide that it’s acceptable to begin a conversation with another person, it's important to remain aware of signals he or she is sending. If the person breaks eye contact and starts busying himself or herself with other things, it’s time to bring the conversation to a polite end.
It’s also important to make sure that the other person doesn’t find the conversation boring, upsetting, or offensive. Facial expressions give useful clues about how the other person is feeling. For example:
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 |
In
this photo, the person seems to be enjoying the conversation. Even so, unless
both of you are on a break, be sure to limit the conversation to just a few
minutes.
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In this photo, the person seems to be angry about something you said. Think about what you were discussing, consider whether you should apologize, politely bring the conversation to an end, and remember to avoid the topic in the future. |
Being sensitive to social cues such as these shows respect for other people’s time, and will improve your conversation skills – both of which will help strengthen your on-the-job relationships and make a good impression on those around you!
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