Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
I’m curious how others deal with people (colleagues, stakeholders, managers) who talk a lot, but after 5–10 minutes you realize they’re not actually saying anything meaningful.
Have you found effective ways to redirect the conversation to something concrete or politely keep things efficient without shutting them down?
I’ve met many colleagues who speak a lot but add very little. What helps me is gently steering the conversation back to clarity. I ask simple grounding questions like ‘What is the decision needed?’ or ‘What is the next step?’. It keeps the discussion respectful but focused, and saves everyone time.
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1 reply by Eduard Hernandez
Dec 20, 2025 11:20 AM
Eduard Hernandez
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The challenge here is to find the right moment to cut them off and to do it in a gentle manner. In some cultures, cutting off other people's speech is considered rude and unprofessional, whilst in others is considered totally normal.
If it is a chronic behavior, it could be hurting them unconsciously in terms of their standing with other folks. As such, assuming you have a good relationship with them I would check if they are open to receiving some constructive feedback and give them specific examples of the behavior as well as offering to help them reduce their verbosity in the future.
Program Manager| HARPER SRLSanto Domingo / Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic
I try to anchor the conversation back to outcomes. Simple prompts like “What decision do we need from this?” or “What’s the next concrete step?” usually help. If it keeps happening, I set clearer agendas and timeboxes, structure often reduces noise without making it personal.
In my case, this has been a real struggle too. I’ve been working on it for years because I tend to over-explain, not because I have nothing to say, but because I want to give more context than the question actually needs. Reorganizing how I answer and being more concise is still a work in progress. That said, having structure, clear questions, and decision-focused prompts helps everyone communicate more effectively.
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1 reply by Eduard Hernandez
Dec 20, 2025 11:21 AM
Eduard Hernandez
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Totally. Learning to say more with less is a difficult art to master!
Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
This is a familiar challenge in project environments, especially where urgency, ambiguity, and stakeholder pressure coexist.
In my experience, the issue is rarely that someone “talks too much”.
More often, it reflects a lack of shared intent and structure.
When people are unclear about the purpose of a conversation, the decision expected, or the level of detail required, they tend to fill the space with words.
A few approaches that consistently help in practice:
• Clarify the purpose early: are we aligning, deciding, or exploring?
• Translate discussion into outcomes: what decision or action should result from this?
• Use gentle summarization to check alignment and bring focus.
• Time-box conversations with clear agendas and decision checkpoints, without shutting people down.
Beyond efficiency, this is about respecting attention as a scarce project resource.
Thoughtful facilitation improves not only speed, but trust, focus, and the quality of decisions.
Curious to hear how others create space for dialogue while keeping conversations purposeful and outcome-driven. Saving Changes...
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Dec 12, 2025 4:11 PM
Replying to Pavan Maddi
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I’ve met many colleagues who speak a lot but add very little. What helps me is gently steering the conversation back to clarity. I ask simple grounding questions like ‘What is the decision needed?’ or ‘What is the next step?’. It keeps the discussion respectful but focused, and saves everyone time.
The challenge here is to find the right moment to cut them off and to do it in a gentle manner. In some cultures, cutting off other people's speech is considered rude and unprofessional, whilst in others is considered totally normal. Saving Changes...
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Dec 15, 2025 1:04 PM
Replying to Lissette Indhira Pimentel Sosa
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I try to anchor the conversation back to outcomes. Simple prompts like “What decision do we need from this?” or “What’s the next concrete step?” usually help. If it keeps happening, I set clearer agendas and timeboxes, structure often reduces noise without making it personal.
In my case, this has been a real struggle too. I’ve been working on it for years because I tend to over-explain, not because I have nothing to say, but because I want to give more context than the question actually needs. Reorganizing how I answer and being more concise is still a work in progress. That said, having structure, clear questions, and decision-focused prompts helps everyone communicate more effectively.
Totally. Learning to say more with less is a difficult art to master! Saving Changes...
I usually bring the discussion back to outcomes by asking clear questions like “What decision do we need to make?” or “What’s the next action?”. Summarizing their point and linking it to a specific outcome helps keep things respectful and focused. This way, the conversation stays efficient without shutting anyone down. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
First of all, define what it does mean "saying anything meaningful.". Second, put the ground rules clear from the very begining. Saving Changes...
I really enjoy reading this thread. A lot of constructive feedback has been stated. These ideas really resonated with me, especially time boxing, redirecting the conversation back to the subject, and asking clarifying or specific questions that divert it back to the core. As asked by Eduard Hernandez, I believe it is professionally inappropriate to cut someone off during a conversation, as it shows that one isn't listening actively. Time boxing (discuss at the start of the meeting - ground rules) will come in handy in this situation. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. I have learned new insight. Saving Changes...
RAMESH PBAuthorised Training Partner - PMI for PMP & PMI-ACP| educationChennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Most ideas are ambiguous to begin with and proponents find it hard to articulate. Efficient conversations are mostly well rehearsed and average. Supportive, activie listening helps. Most original ideas get lost when facilitators try to cut the clutter.
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