How do I politely tell this colleague not to stop by my desk?

Q. I work in an open-plan office.

There are colleagues in the office who are fond of stopping by other people’s desks to chat.

I find this habit totally off-putting, especially when there is a deadline to beat, but I do not know how best to tell them that I am busy without offending them.

Please help me out.

Every workplace houses employees with diverse character and personality traits, but there are three that many dread. The office bully: that colleague who throws his weight around, intimidates, includes and excludes others, and says much while doing little. The quiet one: he seems clueless and wears a, ‘it-does-not-concern-me’ attitude, yet in reality, in his quietness, he shapes and influences opinion.

And then there is the banter guy, the entertainer: he tells never-ending stories and smart jokes as if that is his core job. This person knows what is going on where, who is about to be fired, who is a favourite of whom, who took a loan to take a girlfriend on holiday and who got a pay rise, including the exact increase. Such colleagues thrive in an open plan office environment, and if no action is taken, can kill productivity. But they can be tamed.

First, stay focused on your work. When they come calling, show little interest in their stories and concentrate on your work. If they ignore your body language, politely tell them you have a pressing assignment that cannot wait. This is not about hurting their ego, it is about ensuring that your job gets done – you either feed their ego or do your job.

You can also tune out. Wear your headphones and tune in to your favourite songs and continue to work. This strategy never fails to work.

Take a stroll. When the drivel champion is headed your way, walk out to some imaginary short mission, by the time you get back, he will have found another victim, and with time, will stop coming by your desk altogether. Lastly, you could lobby your colleagues and come up with some ground rules on decorum and etiquette around the office. Take advantage and discuss how to handle other equally upsetting habits such as loud ringtones and phone conversations, too many visitors, untidy works stations and poor hygiene. Instead of ignoring bad behaviour that affects how you do your job, you can confront it, and through good interpersonal skills, create a better work environment.