Oh, wow, I hear you. Here are a few hints:
- stand up and go to the bathroom
- Have a handy empty water bottle and stand up and pick it up and say "Gotta get my steps in, I'll see you soon."
- When you see someone coming, pick up the phone and pretend to dial a number. If they don't get the hint, just mouth "I'll swing by later"
- Look directly at your screen as they talk and then do an "Aww, shoot, hey, I gotta get to this thing. Thi se-mail is just crazy!"
- Write a bunch of notes as they're coming into the office and then just say "I"m sorry, I have to get these talking poitns out soon"
- Make sure to keep any random chairs full of papers or whatever.

Stand up and go to the bathroom.

I can relate. I am in my 40's and there are several 20-somethings in my office who seem a bit needy. Maybe they like chatting with me because I'm a mom.

When I was in my 20's, I wouldn't have dreamed of taking up the time of a working mom in my office. They always seemed so frenzied and stressed out.

I try to avoid looking frenzied (even though I am frenzied). And I do genuinely enjoy the company of my chatty colleagues. I hate cutting people off when they're talking, but it really frustrates me to burn time at the office chit chatting.

Close your door.

I would say "Im sorry but unfortunately I really need to get back to work."

But I would also remind you that little chats like this help build relationships that can make your day and work flow go smoother and thus in the end save you time.

I have this problem with one very nice woman who is an empty nester. Even when she had young children, her mother watched them, so she never had to be efficient. I simply starting saying kindly, "I'm sorry but I need to get back to work." People without time constraints can be oblivious.

Don't hint. I sometimes don't realize, and really appreciate my coworker who will just say "Okay, I've gotta get back to work."

"I really have to get back to work"
"I have to call so-and-so back right now"
"I have to finish xyz before ___. Tell me more later."

Can't hint

Tertiary should be talkative

You can't hint, you need to just state you can't chat. "Sorry but I'm busy and really need to get back to xyz now"."

Leave off the sorry if you're trying to minimize apologizing in the workplace, I add it since I know I'm pretty brisk and intimidate people if I'm not careful.

Surreptitiously call your office phone from your cell phone. Better yet, if you have a fellow coworker who can assist you & can see when these tertiary offenders come to your space, instruct them to call you (or if your computer screen is out of Chatty Cathy's view, send an email asking them to call).

There are lots of people who just don't get social cues. The phone calls are the only things that ever worked for me.

I keep my eyes on my computer/paperwork and make minimal eye contact during the convo. I have 1 chatty employee who doesn't pick up the clue and I have to tell her "can we talk later? I'm on a deadline"

First of all you need to look busy to minimize the interruptions. I don't think you need to fake this since you are truly busy, but don't look up right away when someone approaches, keep your eyes on your paper or the computer. Hold your hand up, finish what you're immediately working on and then say, "what's up?" At that point they should already feel a little tense, but if they launch into something pointless, say "I'd love to hear about it, but I'm right in the middle of this. Can I come by at x time?" Then you're in control. Guard your focus op; it's a never ending battle.

I have a few very chatty people in my office. I am fine with a bit of daily chit chat, but I find that they will come to my office and spend 15-20 minutes talking to me about this and that. Some are 20-somethings that seem to need to chat about whatever is going on in their lives.

I work full-time, have 3 kids, and have a lot to do at work each day. It really stresses me out that they spend so much time talking to me because I want to get my job done and go home.

Is there a tactful way, without being rude, to help them realize that I need to get back to work. I am very much aware when people are busy and need to get back to work, and I stop talking. But perhaps it took me a while to come around to that realization too?

Thx for any tips!