Monday Mannerisms

What do you do when you find you are in a one sided conversation with no hope of adding to the subject? What do you do when they go on and on and on and....? 

I have a feeling you can recall a time in your life where you were forced to keep your mind from wondering and your eyes from glazing over. I'm not referring to a dry subject loved by only your college professor, or a religious engagement. I am pin pointing specifically, a person that will not, for the, love of pete, stop talking. 

We have all been there, you find yourself locked into a conversation that will not stop. The problem is you have no chance to add your thoughts to what is being said because you are being talked AT, not with. People who talk too much are thought of as being long winded, boring and someone who enjoys hearing themselves talk. Why? Because they don't give others a chance to add to the conversation.

When you are locked into a situation that makes you uncomfortable, you will do what comes naturally. In this scenario you'll use nonverbal cues to communicate your disinterest to your speaker. You will shift around in your seat, sign, look away, fidget. Your partner your in a conversation with will see those cues and change the subject. If they are charming it might go like this, "but enough about do- it- yourself dog tooth extractions, how have you been? Bam, you are free! 


So, what do you do when those cues are not seen or are ignored? There are polite ways of communicating to your long winded talker that you will not continue in their impolite and selfish hogging of the conversation. You simply say. I'm so sorry to interrupt you, but I have to go. Great seeing you....then you bolt! Seriously, walk away. Unfortunately, long winded talkers are socially avoided and don't even know why. 

Now, test your social savvy. Do you let your partner talk every 30 seconds. Did you know that there was such a rule in timing conversation? There is. Do you allow your audience a chance to add something to the conversation every 30 seconds? 
Well, here you go. My 30 seconds are up. It's your turn.



If the talker locks you in and traps you while not noticing your non-verbal cues. You're going to have to be direct and excuse yourself.