[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Fullwidth Post Title Header” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ background_color=”#f7f7f7″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(33,51,101,0)” parallax=”on” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_module=”767″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”on” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title author=”off” date=”off” comments=”off” featured_placement=”background” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.5)” admin_label=”Fullwidth Post Title” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ title_font=”Playfair Display|900|||on||||” title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#213365″ title_font_size=”55px” meta_font=”Poppins|500|on||||||” meta_text_align=”center” meta_font_size=”14px” meta_letter_spacing=”2px” meta_line_height=”1.8em” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_gradient_direction=”245deg” custom_padding=”130px||250px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”150px||150px” custom_padding_phone=”50px||50px” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” title_font_size_tablet=”45px” title_font_size_phone=”40px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ locked=”on”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Post Content” _builder_version=”4.9.0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ admin_label=”Post Content” _builder_version=”4.9.0″][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Introduction” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ text_font=”Poppins||||||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”on” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
You’re in the office and you’ve just asked the new guy or girl to complete a basic task. After waiting 30 minutes for what should have taken 10, you start to wonder whether they’ll ever come back. Whilst you impatiently glance at your watch you can see the same colleague walking towards you out of the corner of your eye.<\/p>\n
You look closer only to realize don’t seem to have completed your task yet. Before you have the chance to ask what has happened there come the excuses. They explain EVERY reason (in detail) about why they couldn’t complete your basic request.<\/p>\n
In another scenario, perhaps you’ve been put under the management of someone who has very recently been promoted.<\/p>\n
They brief you on your task which you grasp very quickly (as it’s something you’re very familiar with) and yet for whatever reason unbeknown to you, they won’t let you get on with it.<\/p>\n
They repeat over and over, with snippets of irrelevant information as though they just can’t get enough of the sound of their own voice.<\/p>\n
Perhaps they don’t have very many people to talk to?<\/p>\n
Perhaps they think I’m deaf?<\/p>\n
…or an idiot?<\/p>\n
No amount of “Yep, got it” or “I’ll get that done right away” seems to push these people off. They ignore your non-verbal cues which suggest ‘Yeah I get it stupid’ and continue to over-explain until what seemed like a straightforward concept now feels like rocket science.<\/p>\n
You start to feel the frustration of having someone waste your valuable time. Sound familiar?<\/p>\n
In this article we are going to outline our favorite 8 Scripts to deal with the ‘Over Explainer’ at Work:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Illustrations courtesy of Shutterstock.<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nSorry for interrupting you [Insert Name], it’s not necessary to you explain everything, I just need to know where we are with this to plan accordingly.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
I get the feeling you’re under a lot of pressure- is that the case?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Often when somebody starts to over-explain in a defensive way it is a sign of them feeling pressured.<\/p>\n
The person may subconsciously see themselves as inferior and project an image of themselves being the lower end of the hierarchy when there’s no need to.<\/p>\n
By telling them they’re unnecessarily trying to prove themselves when they’ve already jumped the tough hurdle (by securing the role in the first place) they main gain perspective and relax a little.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.nevertherightword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/control-time-never-right-word-scaled.jpg” admin_label=”Single Image” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ custom_css_main_element=”}||.wrapper {||position: relative;||height: 0;||\/* Formula is: (height \/ width * 100%) *\/||padding-top: calc(720 \/ 800 * 100%);||}||||.wrapper__img {||position: absolute;||top: 0;||left: 0;||max-width: 100%;||height: auto;” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ locked=”on”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”3.21.2″ locked=”on”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Template 2″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ text_font=”Poppins||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”on” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Script 2 | The Polite(ish) Shut Down<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
\nExcuse me [Insert Name] but honestly, I’m really busy right now. Can you try to cut your story a bit shorter?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
With this method you should be a little bit careful, as you could cause offense, but if you are in a situation where you really don’t have the time to talk about things that don’t matter to you it may be the best choice. Keep your tone soft and friendly and you’ll have nothing to worry about.<\/p>\n
Time is money so when the person over-explaining their situation to you is not even a person that you” have to deal with very often, just shut them down in a polite way.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.nevertherightword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/rushing-against-time-never-right-word-scaled.jpg” admin_label=”Single Image” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ custom_css_main_element=”}||.wrapper {||position: relative;||height: 0;||\/* Formula is: (height \/ width * 100%) *\/||padding-top: calc(585 \/ 800 * 100%);||}||||.wrapper__img {||position: absolute;||top: 0;||left: 0;||max-width: 100%;||height: auto;” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ locked=”on”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_code admin_label=”Coaching Employees through Difficult Situations LinkedIn Learning Preview Video” _builder_version=”3.26.7″ text_orientation=”left” link_option_url=”https:\/\/linkedin-learning.pxf.io\/OZZ6G” link_option_url_new_window=”on” global_module=”10745″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”on”]If you want to develop your communication skills for professional environments even further, we think you\u2019ll like the “Coaching Employees through Difficult Situations” video course from LinkedIn Learning. Check out the preview below: