I supervise a smallish but not particularly intimate department at work. The most surprising thing to me when I started was how the supervisor's office became a confessional booth where people would just come in and... talk. And talk. And talk. About nothing. It wasn't a conversation. They were laying on the couch with rampant diarrhea of the mouth and I was the shrink. I was able to nip it in the bud with the ancillary/support staff by continuing to work while they talked and not ask questions or otherwise engage.
The problem now is with the peer-level professionals I supervise. We've had some turnover, they've had to really bring it, and I am so grateful for the two I have remaining who work hard, do a good job, and don't whine all the time. I arrive and leave earlier than they do so I try to do a quick visit with each of them before I leave, just to wish them a good night and stuff. I swear to you the floodgates just open. They just start a monologue. I've tried different tactics that should otherwise imply I'm just stopping by: stopping by with an obvious huge armload of heavy stuff, holding phone in the hand, purse on shoulder, you name it. They just GO. Today one of them rambled for 20 minutes about how his family now drinks a 50/50 mix of coconut milk and almond milk because the coconut milk has a certain lipid in it that they used to think was dangerous but now they found out is really healthy.
I am simply unable to interject without coming off like a total jerk. And because they are both nice people and good workers, I want them to feel valued. But at what cost? I left the office almost 45 minutes later than planned because of it. And it happens routinely. I even missed a doctor's appointment because of it -- no lie. They both *knew* I was rushing to leave, but would. Not. Shut. Up.
PLEASE HELP!! Any advice would be much appreciated.
The problem now is with the peer-level professionals I supervise. We've had some turnover, they've had to really bring it, and I am so grateful for the two I have remaining who work hard, do a good job, and don't whine all the time. I arrive and leave earlier than they do so I try to do a quick visit with each of them before I leave, just to wish them a good night and stuff. I swear to you the floodgates just open. They just start a monologue. I've tried different tactics that should otherwise imply I'm just stopping by: stopping by with an obvious huge armload of heavy stuff, holding phone in the hand, purse on shoulder, you name it. They just GO. Today one of them rambled for 20 minutes about how his family now drinks a 50/50 mix of coconut milk and almond milk because the coconut milk has a certain lipid in it that they used to think was dangerous but now they found out is really healthy.
I am simply unable to interject without coming off like a total jerk. And because they are both nice people and good workers, I want them to feel valued. But at what cost? I left the office almost 45 minutes later than planned because of it. And it happens routinely. I even missed a doctor's appointment because of it -- no lie. They both *knew* I was rushing to leave, but would. Not. Shut. Up.
PLEASE HELP!! Any advice would be much appreciated.