Something people need to STOP doing

I have a coworker who literally announces whenever he has to go to the bathroom.

Another person I work with always voices when she is hungry.

Still another coworker -- as soon as the clock strikes 12:30 -- verbalizes in advance that she is going to lunch.

Why must people put everything on the table? Are some individuals so narcissistic these days as to assume that others need to know everything they're thinking, doing, and planning?

Something that has seemingly gotten lost on these folks is the art of mystery.

One of the things I find so unsettling about the workplace is that these kinds of scenarios play out on a daily basis. And given how closely packed together cubicles are becoming to accommodate an ever-increasing number of employees, it's an inescapable reality.

I think the reason people are this way is because, put simply, they're attention hounds. They're anything but self-contained. They're constantly looking for validation from others. They need someone to attend and respond to them -- otherwise they feel ignored if not ostracized.

It's astounding how people can be so needy. As I've noted in other posts:

The workplace in many ways is reminiscent of high school in that some people feel a strong need to be "part of the group"
Some people just can't help but insinuate themselves into every conversation taking place around the office
Those who can remain occupied without another person's input -- at least for a sustained period of time -- are a dying breed

I don't need to know when you're going to the bathroom, what you feel like eating for lunch today, or what your neighbor's friend's sister's cousin is planning for the weekend. Excessive small talk really gets under my skin after a while.

There's something to be said for people who are friendly with and respectful toward others, but perfectly content being on their own. The coworker I referenced earlier who announces whenever he has to go to the restroom is the kind person who can't tolerate too much quietness. If he goes half an hour without hearing or talking to another human being, he goes berserk.

People might argue that if your own company is enough, you're probably too self-absorbed. But I think it's the reverse. Those who bristle at not getting enough attention from others are likely more selfish, and in the most extreme cases, such behavior borders on narcissism.

I think some people need to make more of an effort to not be so reliant on other people for their amusement. Read a book. Listen to music. There are ways to keep yourself occupied that don't necessarily involve another human being.

At the end of the day, an aura of mystery goes a long way toward making you seem like an interesting person (in my book anyway). Leave something to the imagination!

Have you run into people like this -- whether in the workplace or elsewhere? How have you dealt with them?

Check out other posts at How to Understand People, including:

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