Saturday, October 30, 2010

Multi-tasking . . .

. . . or just plain rude?

Do you work for or with someone who keeps working on their computer when you come to ask questions?

Do they talk to you, but continue typing and not look up from the screen?

It has happened to me now and again, and I consider it rude and dismissive.

How about you? Have you ever done that? Do you do it consistently?

Or, do you do the right thing, and either:

a. Say "please give me just a moment so I don't lose my thought," or,

b. Turn and face your visitor and give them your attention?

Be honest now.
Growlings by at

6 comments:

IanB said...

I think there's two ways of looking a it. I worked at one place where I pretty much always knew the answer to most questions due to my role and therefore it was often easier to come and ask me a quick question knowing they'd probably get the right answer first time around rather than a slower and generally less accurate response from colleagues working in a similar position. Problem with this; I was very busy doing lots of other things with an already large workload and taking time out to help someone interfered with that as well as my concentration. If I had been less helpful and a little bit less approachable it would not have helped them or my employer but I would have been a lot happier.

The other way to look at it is; what a rude git - I hate people that do the "I'm far too busy to even tell you I am far too busy, minion" attitude. A good strategy is to start 'absent mindedly' playing with stuff on their shelves whilst you're waiting for an audience - even better if you can feign knocking something over whilst muttering "whoops" under your breath. They'll soon learn not to take their eyes off you... ;-)

3:40 AM
Jack said...

That's something I didn't think of. If co-workers are being annoying by interrupting when they should be doing their own work, then perhaps sending a message of "I'm really busy, can't you do your own work?" might be appropriate.

10:41 AM
Brennig said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
5:50 AM
Brennig said...

Here's another (albeit personal) view:

Sometimes I'm not at a place of work to be approachable. Sometimes I'm there to examine, to investigate and to scrutinise in minute information - in a governance or policing kind of way. And sometimes I would be open to interruption.

How I manage these things is what's important. Of course, I might shoot someone who interrupted me when my DND flag is flying...

5:51 AM
Jack said...

I understand the exceptions. I was thinking more of the everyday situations where you have a valid reason for talking to your supervisor, or for dropping in on one of your employees.

On the other hand, wouldn't it be more appropriate in almost any situation to stop, lookup and simply say, "Can we do this this another time? I really need to finish this."

Unless it's Joy Behar, in which case the proper course of action is to keep clicking away while saying, "Bugger off, bitch!"

1:59 PM
Lisa said...

Normally, I try to say, "Just one second.." but sometimes I probably do forget.

I think people walking up to someone who is avidly typing should probably ask if that person has a minute. I probably forget that sometimes, too. :D

Good reminder to be courteous.

8:41 PM

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