Type

Behavior

Suggestion

Hostile

• “It’ll never work.”
• “That’s a typical engineering viewpoint.”

• “How do others feel about this?”
• “You may be right, but let’s review the facts and the evidence.

Know-It-All

• “I have worked on this project more than anyone in this room…”
• “I have done this kind of work for years…”

• Let’s review the facts.”  (Avoid theory speculation)
• “Another person with noteworthy experience in this has advised us…”

Loudmouth

• Constantly blurts out ideas or questions.
• Tries to dominate the meeting.

• Interrupt: “Can you summarize your main point/question for us?”
• “I appreciate your comments, but we should also hear from others.”

Interrupter

• Starts talking before others are finished.

• “Wait a minute, Jim, let’s let Jan finish what she was saying.”

Interpreter

• “What John is really trying to say is…”
• “John would respond to that question by saying…”

• “Let’s let John speak for himself.  Go ahead, John, finish what you were saying.”
• “John, how would you respond.”
• “John, do you think Jim correctly understood what you said?”

Gossiper

• “Isn’t there a regulation that you can’t…”
• “I thought I heard the VP Finance say…”

• “Can anyone here verify this?”        ( assuming no response)
• “Let’s not take the time of the group until we can verify the accuracy of this information.

Whisperer

• Irritating side conversation going on between two people.

• Walk up close to the guilty parties and make eye contact.
• Stop talking and establish dead silence.
• Politely ask the whisperers to wait until the meeting is over to finish their conversation