Why do people talk and talk and talk and say nothing?

[ringmastery]

When I speak, I get to the point. I talk clearly and concisely and know exactly how to make my point effectively in a couple minutes in meetings.

On the other hand, my co-workers and especially my boss, go on and on and on and after a half hour, you don't know what the hell they said. They think outloud and likewise 95% of the stuff they say is utter crap. After they speak, you say to yourself, what the hell did they just say? I rather think to myself and only say the 5% or so that's important, but then I get labeled "aloof" because of my conciseness. whatever.

[jpgray]

1. They're probably bored to tears during your concise statements

You have to dress it up a little. Throw 'let's touch base', or 'get on the same page' around, insert the words 'paradigm' and 'facilitate', and you're ready to go.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. I could have written your post.

I try not to let those feelings show, though, because those folks who are talking and talking and talking and saying nothing usually seem to think every word they speak is a rare pearl.

[ringmastery]

5. I have perfected

the my blank stare nodding every 20 or so seconds and pretending to pay attention, while the whole time thinking to myself...

when will this idiot shut up, when will this meeting be over, only 20 more minutes, only 15 more minutes till this fool shuts up, oh my god, how can this fuckwit keep talking....

[Feanorcurufinwe]

20. That sounds just like

what I was doing, that pissed everyone off!

[sundog]

3. that's why god created cell phones..

:think:

[Radical Activist]

4. The only time in life when I consider killing myself

is during long staff meetings. It drives me NUTS! People go on and on forever about nothing useful or interesting at all. At least they aren't as bad at my current job as in previous ones. I keep thinking, "I have real work or goofing-off I could be doing. Shut the fuck up and get on with it!!! :mad:

[Westegg]

6. Probably, you're smarter than they are. QUIT. And start yer own business

[m-jean03]

7. Just don't be a writer.

:P

[Westegg]

13. Oh FER SURE, don't be a writer...

..unless you have a trust fund and two livers...

[m-jean03]

15. Ha . Maybe.. & I was making fun of writers too. . .

Ya know, those borderline extremely verbose ones?
I figured, her/his conciseness would disqualify her/him from a
career of pompous verbosity. ;-)

[Westegg]

17. Would certainly disqualify him/her from being YOU, my loquacious darling

[m-jean03]

19. The multitudinous and sensational rumors of my loquaciousness

SURELY have been highly exaggerated. . . :D

[Westegg]

23. I doubt anything I've heard about you has been exaggerated.

[ringmastery]

11. oh I know I'm smarter than everyone I work with

that's part of the problem, dealing with idiots.

Yet, I have a very stable federal government job that pays well with enormous job security. I work 40 hours a week and get four weeks of paid annual leave as well as four weeks of paid sick leave.

[Westegg]

14. Yep. Security like that, it's tough to let it go...

...You're luckier than so many, and good on yer for that, mate. But maybe you've got a dream you'd like to pursue? I don't know your situation---just playing devil's advocate here. It's tough working for a boss you're smarter than, though, ain't it? I used to. Hated it.

[ringmastery]

16. yeah

I find myself always biting my tongue. I have to pick my battles very carefully. Usually, I just don't care if the boss is doing something wrong. I know my job is secure. I do my work and then leave and pursue other interests in my free time.

The thing is change is scary. I wouldn't know what in the world to do if I left to support myself. Most small businesses fail spectacularily and I don't have the time or motivation to work 80 hours a week to get it running.

[Westegg]

22. Hey, you're honest about this. I totally respect that...

Yes, change IS scary. And maybe not the thing for you right now. My larger point is, if you've got a dream, hold on to it, and your time will surely come. In the meantime, it's all politics, ain't it? Holding your tongue, picking your battles, etc. Only way I made it through that part of my life was to see it all as a game. This is particularly satisfying when you know you're smarter than they are. Yeah, that's a cynical point of view but...it worked for me.

[SmileyBoy]

8. I'm known to talk and talk, but I don't bullshit around.

I talk about one thing straight on, then go to the next, then go to the next. It's called being a chatterbox.:D

[fishnfla]

9. Diarrhea of the mouth, constipation of the brain. Very common malady.

[texas1928]

10. well

Speaking volumes when one word will do, or one word speaks volumes. Depends on the person doing the speaking.

[unblock]

12. the VAST majority of bosses mistake verbal diarrhea for leadership

it's true. and some will actually defend that view. leadership is about having a vision and communicating it, and if you're the one doing 90% of the talking, then surely you're the one setting the tone.

nevermind if the vision sucks, or if you're not really communicating anything, or ....


but a good rule of thumb is that he who talks most gets promoted. sadly, it works.

[rumguy]

18. Because...

what is there really to say?

[Spider Jerusalem]

21. They are extroverts. You are apparently not.

Here lies the crux of your problem. Extroverts and introverts communicate in different ways and think in different ways. Extroverts tend to be more process-oriented; introverts are more detail-oriented, and hence usually manage to say more with fewer words than their outgoing conterparts.

(As an introvert myself, I quite often am frustrated by the amazingly roundabout and 99% content-free manner in which extroverts express themselves...)