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Best way to address an executive who interrupts a conversation with a colleague
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The situation was as follows: I was at a company event carrying a casual conversation with a colleague when I was interrupted mid-conversation by an executive. To my recollection, the executive was conferring with another executive and was curious about my professional history.
Ethically, what is the best way to continue? Would I apologize to my colleague and address the executive's question, continue with my current statement to my colleague and answer the executive's question after winding up our train-of-thought, or something completely different?
professionalism communication colleagues ethics
asked Apr 20 '15 at 18:51
Raccoon
233
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up vote
4
down vote
favorite
The situation was as follows: I was at a company event carrying a casual conversation with a colleague when I was interrupted mid-conversation by an executive. To my recollection, the executive was conferring with another executive and was curious about my professional history.
Ethically, what is the best way to continue? Would I apologize to my colleague and address the executive's question, continue with my current statement to my colleague and answer the executive's question after winding up our train-of-thought, or something completely different?
professionalism communication colleagues ethics
asked Apr 20 '15 at 18:51
Raccoon
233
7
The simple way to know what the right thing to do in this situation is to give precedence to the person more likely to ensure you are employed tomorrow.
– NotMe
Apr 20 '15 at 23:20
+1 There used to be an Etiquette proposal on Area51, and what a beautiful addition to it would this have been.
– rath
Apr 21 '15 at 2:37
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
The situation was as follows: I was at a company event carrying a casual conversation with a colleague when I was interrupted mid-conversation by an executive. To my recollection, the executive was conferring with another executive and was curious about my professional history.
Ethically, what is the best way to continue? Would I apologize to my colleague and address the executive's question, continue with my current statement to my colleague and answer the executive's question after winding up our train-of-thought, or something completely different?
professionalism communication colleagues ethics
asked Apr 20 '15 at 18:51
Raccoon
233
The situation was as follows: I was at a company event carrying a casual conversation with a colleague when I was interrupted mid-conversation by an executive. To my recollection, the executive was conferring with another executive and was curious about my professional history.
Ethically, what is the best way to continue? Would I apologize to my colleague and address the executive's question, continue with my current statement to my colleague and answer the executive's question after winding up our train-of-thought, or something completely different?
professionalism communication colleagues ethics
asked Apr 20 '15 at 18:51
Raccoon
233
asked Apr 20 '15 at 18:51
Raccoon
233
asked Apr 20 '15 at 18:51
Raccoon
233
asked Apr 20 '15 at 18:51
Raccoon
233
233
7
The simple way to know what the right thing to do in this situation is to give precedence to the person more likely to ensure you are employed tomorrow.
– NotMe
Apr 20 '15 at 23:20
+1 There used to be an Etiquette proposal on Area51, and what a beautiful addition to it would this have been.
– rath
Apr 21 '15 at 2:37
suggest improvements |Â
7
The simple way to know what the right thing to do in this situation is to give precedence to the person more likely to ensure you are employed tomorrow.
– NotMe
Apr 20 '15 at 23:20
+1 There used to be an Etiquette proposal on Area51, and what a beautiful addition to it would this have been.
– rath
Apr 21 '15 at 2:37
7
7
The simple way to know what the right thing to do in this situation is to give precedence to the person more likely to ensure you are employed tomorrow.
– NotMe
Apr 20 '15 at 23:20
The simple way to know what the right thing to do in this situation is to give precedence to the person more likely to ensure you are employed tomorrow.
– NotMe
Apr 20 '15 at 23:20
+1 There used to be an Etiquette proposal on Area51, and what a beautiful addition to it would this have been.
– rath
Apr 21 '15 at 2:37
+1 There used to be an Etiquette proposal on Area51, and what a beautiful addition to it would this have been.
– rath
Apr 21 '15 at 2:37
suggest improvements |Â
1 Answer
1
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up vote
14
down vote
accepted
This is an instance where your colleague will understand - work takes precedence. The executive could have maybe been more polite by standing there waiting for you to bring him into the conversation, but I wouldn't be upset about it.
How you respond will depend on how long you think the answer will take. If it's a quick question, I would just answer it, make sure he doesn't have anything else, then go back to talking to the colleague. If it's clear that this question is really going to be an extended conversation, I would probably turn to my colleague and say something like, "I'll find you and we can finish this story later." Then I would turn to the exec and begin to answer the actual question.
answered Apr 20 '15 at 19:08
David K
20.8k1075110
suggest improvements |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
This is an instance where your colleague will understand - work takes precedence. The executive could have maybe been more polite by standing there waiting for you to bring him into the conversation, but I wouldn't be upset about it.
How you respond will depend on how long you think the answer will take. If it's a quick question, I would just answer it, make sure he doesn't have anything else, then go back to talking to the colleague. If it's clear that this question is really going to be an extended conversation, I would probably turn to my colleague and say something like, "I'll find you and we can finish this story later." Then I would turn to the exec and begin to answer the actual question.
answered Apr 20 '15 at 19:08
David K
20.8k1075110
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
This is an instance where your colleague will understand - work takes precedence. The executive could have maybe been more polite by standing there waiting for you to bring him into the conversation, but I wouldn't be upset about it.
How you respond will depend on how long you think the answer will take. If it's a quick question, I would just answer it, make sure he doesn't have anything else, then go back to talking to the colleague. If it's clear that this question is really going to be an extended conversation, I would probably turn to my colleague and say something like, "I'll find you and we can finish this story later." Then I would turn to the exec and begin to answer the actual question.
answered Apr 20 '15 at 19:08
David K
20.8k1075110
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
This is an instance where your colleague will understand - work takes precedence. The executive could have maybe been more polite by standing there waiting for you to bring him into the conversation, but I wouldn't be upset about it.
How you respond will depend on how long you think the answer will take. If it's a quick question, I would just answer it, make sure he doesn't have anything else, then go back to talking to the colleague. If it's clear that this question is really going to be an extended conversation, I would probably turn to my colleague and say something like, "I'll find you and we can finish this story later." Then I would turn to the exec and begin to answer the actual question.
answered Apr 20 '15 at 19:08
David K
20.8k1075110
This is an instance where your colleague will understand - work takes precedence. The executive could have maybe been more polite by standing there waiting for you to bring him into the conversation, but I wouldn't be upset about it.
How you respond will depend on how long you think the answer will take. If it's a quick question, I would just answer it, make sure he doesn't have anything else, then go back to talking to the colleague. If it's clear that this question is really going to be an extended conversation, I would probably turn to my colleague and say something like, "I'll find you and we can finish this story later." Then I would turn to the exec and begin to answer the actual question.
answered Apr 20 '15 at 19:08
David K
20.8k1075110
answered Apr 20 '15 at 19:08
David K
20.8k1075110
answered Apr 20 '15 at 19:08
David K
20.8k1075110
answered Apr 20 '15 at 19:08
David K
20.8k1075110
20.8k1075110
suggest improvements |Â
suggest improvements |Â
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7
The simple way to know what the right thing to do in this situation is to give precedence to the person more likely to ensure you are employed tomorrow.
– NotMe
Apr 20 '15 at 23:20
+1 There used to be an Etiquette proposal on Area51, and what a beautiful addition to it would this have been.
– rath
Apr 21 '15 at 2:37