How do you deal with a person who thinks out loud and won't shut up?

Question

I work with a lady who talks loud, thinks out loud, and never stops talking unless she puts her headphones on to listen to music. Not only that, but she's impatient and gets flustered easily, always complains about her work load or things she has to deal with at work. Sometimes when I have to discuss something with her, I have to get a little brash to get my point across to her. She also has an annoying voice, and whenever she decides to be happy about something, she always looks at me as if I'm supposed to join into her laughter, even though I could care less.

I'm a very quiet, introspective person. I always think before I say things, and I like to concentrate on my own stuff without listening to her talk my ear off. She perceives me as aloof and has told me that to my face. I'm not trying to be aloof, but I don't like being around her. So maybe I am aloof around her. I get along fine with everyone else in the office.

Answer 1

My husband is an out-loud thinker, and all i can say is that it's sort of like a disability...  I can't stand it, because even the simplest act, like pulling into a parking spot for instance, turns into such a big deal...he's not OCD or anything, but hearing out loud what normally goes on "behind closed doors" adds unnecessary stress.  I bet your coworker suffers from anxiety, as that's what I'm pretty sure my husband has.  She may not realize that she's doing it, or she may not realize how much it bothers you.  Be honest-- if not about the thinking aloud, at least about the volume, since she has no problem being honest with you!  Tell her it bothers you, preferably without using the word annoying.  Good luck.

Answer 2

You don't want to know.

Answer 3

Get yourself a small voice recorder to tape her incessant babbling and distracting others.  Simply play it back for her and explain, this is a typical work period with you and it's very hard for me to concentrate on my job with the distraction.

Do it with no one else around so as not to throw her into a defensive mode. Tell her you are erasing the tape, but felt it was the only way to get her to see what she may obviously be missing about her actions and the effect on others.  

Answer 4

First tell the boss what you are going to say to her.Then just be honest with her. Tell her that you cannot concentratre on what you are doing with her talking all the time. Tell her  that it is hard to work when all she does is complain about her job. Tell her that she is driving you crazy and she should take a really long vacation somewhere far away.

Then smile and walk away.

I am sure that others who work around her feel the same way as you do.

Answer 5

Your male boss is not doing a good job keeping the women in your office in-line.Your a woman their is nothing you can do don't speak to your boss unless spoken to.