Those "shouty" people

[raindance]

I'd be interested to hear how my fellow DDers deal with "shouty" people.  Do you: dismiss them outright? Tell them you have an urgent call to make/urgent piece of work to do/meeting to attend? Shout back? Get all defensive? Listen attentively and discuss? Make an appointment to discuss later?  

I had a senior colleague, one of our directors, in my office this morning getting all fired up about something.  It took quite a while and a good deal of effort, including adjusting my body language (no folded arms!) but the shouty person that came into my office was almost purring when he went out ... and we've identified a need for us to meet once a month to discuss upcoming issues.  Problem solved and shouty-person happy.  Now I need resuscitating.

Raindance

Edited by raindance on 21/04/06 01:23 PM.

[geminigirl]

Well done, Raindance!  It's such a result when they leave with a much better mood than they came in with.  I tend to get very polite (not that I'm not, you understand!) and formal with the Shouters and, without sounding ingratiating, try and solve their problems or at least assure them that I will speak to the relevant person - if I'm not that person - so we can get progress on whatever's upsetting them.

Nine times out of ten it's something that's been blown out of all proportion but, if you can do your bit to try and take the sting out of it for them, you've made a friend!

Trouble is, if you get a reputation for doing that, they'll *always* be coming to you...

Everyone!!!  Have a great Friday - 15 minutes and I'm outahere!