Sometimes you just have to interrupt Chatty Cathy
Chatty Cathy was a doll sold by Mattel Toys in the early 1960s. It had a pull string and it would utter a variety of phrases. Its popularity led to several other versions of pull string dolls and to Mattel's See 'n Say. Remember that toy? "The cow says moo!" Ok, it's 5am and I digress. Go here if you really desire to learn more about Chatty Cathy.
Today Chatty Cathy is a name given to a person who can talk the leg off of a chair. Do you lead one? I'm talking about the type of person who, for whatever reason, can go on and on and on sharing an idea, making a point, or responding to a question. Sometimes it is quite impressive but mostly it is annoying and challenging to manage. It poses a leadership dilemma. To be a good leader, you must be a good listener but you also have to be loyal to other people's (and your) time and efficiency. What then can be done about Chatty Cathy? Here are my thoughts.
Why the chattiness? Try to find out. It may be that a person is nervous and seeks comfort by filling space with words. It may be that they are overly emotional and passionate about a topic. Call on me to help you navigate this hard but necessary conversation.
Sometimes you just have to interrupt Chatty Cathy.
Good, patient listening is always paramount but when 'Cathy' begins to ramble or you see no end to his or her talking you should tactfully interrupt. Here is an example:
"Cathy, stop there for a minute. I'm sorry to interrupt you but I want to respond to that point before you go further." or "..I'm slow and need to process that idea for a moment." or "...this is an important topic and we are nearing the end of our meeting and I want the other attendees to share their thoughts."
Sharpen your questions (previous blog). Frame your questions so that Cathymust reply in bullet points, summarize his or her response, or even respond with yes or no.
Don't be too quick or frequent with your interruptions. Be tactful and diplomatic and try not to offend or damage a relationship. Establish a trusting and fun environment. If 'Cathy' knows that you care deeply for him or her you can even poke fun about their chattiness.
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell