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[engineer_adrift]

I have a small department.  There are two wonderful faculty members who feel compelled everytime they see me to let me know exactly what they have done for God, country, and university today.  One of them stops by two or three times a day just to let me know he is doing great things.

How do you handle this?  I'd like to get some work done.

[larryc]

Close your door. Or stand up for yourself ("Look, I have work to do..."). Or flee ("Is it 10?! Yikes, I have an appointment, gotta run.")

[pilchard]

In my own experience, validation is a great way to end a conversation quickly -- it's positive, but does not leave much of an opening for further discussion:  "Wow, you must be so pleased with your work!  I, on the other hand, still have things to finish up, so I'm afraid I have to get back to my work.  Please excuse me..."

[oldchair]

In my own experience, validation is a great way to end a conversation quickly -- it's positive, but does not leave much of an opening for further discussion:  "Wow, you must be so pleased with your work!  I, on the other hand, still have things to finish up, so I'm afraid I have to get back to my work.  Please excuse me..."

Validation is a great strategy, but remember it's all part of the job.  Sometimes the best thing a chair can do is listen to seemingly pointless conversations.

Good luck

[tattletale_heart]

Keep in mind that those up for promotion and tenure are often told (even in these fora) that a good strategy is to make sure that they let their chair know, often and well, about their accomplishments.  These people are most likely just following advice.

[iomhaigh]

Would scheduling a once weekly session with them help? 

[oldchair]

Would scheduling a once weekly session with them help? 

It might, but it's also time consuming and may be a bit too formal.

 I've learned to use the "manage by walking around" strategy.  I make it a point to walk about the hall and stop by offices most mornings.  Some folks really want to be left alone, and I leave them alone.  Unless there's real business and I make an appointment, I leave them the hell alone.  Others like to keep me informed or need a little pat on the back, so I stop by to see what's up, share a quick joke, offer a word of encouragement.  Part of it is because I'm just a naturally wonderful person (as all of you have no doubt noticed), but part of it is less altruistic.  Twenty minutes of walking around with a cup of coffee in the morning can save an hour or two in the afternoon, and good people are reminded that they matter.

[history_chair]

I agree with old_chair. I've found that by walking around with a cup of coffee or hanging around the mail boxes for a few minutes greatly reduces the "drop in and chat" faculty member. Doesn't eliminate them, but allows them to toot their horns and at the same times helps me preserve my time.

[science_expat]

My Chair does the walking around bit and also generally eats in the lunch room.

I quite like this and very rarely bother him in his office.

[neniaf]

The walking around does help.  So does giving faculty a regular outlet for boasting about their accomplishments.  It is usually the person who is afraid that the Chair won't think he is doing anything who feels compelled to tell you constantly, so I would either set aside some time at faculty meetings for them to report on their doings or I would provide a form, to be turned in to you regularly, on which they are to list their accomplishments.

[anthroid]

I walk around when I can and when I learn of a faculty accomplishment--whether they tell me or (as has happened) I hear about it on NPR--I boast about them to the entire department via email, ostentatiously copying the Dean.  People seem to like this.

Once I have a webmaster, there will be a monthly newsletter as well so we can brag to the world, or at least the five people a month who actually might read it, including spouses.

[scotia]

I haven't been a chair but should I ever have the honor (misfortune?) I will emulate the excellent head who did the walking about bit and focused on the staff he was visiting. I had transferred from a department where I was expected to fight all my own battles and it never occurred to me to approach the department head when I became overloaded due to firefighting until he started finding out about and handling some of the problems. It was also very nice to discover that the work I did was appreciated. This guy had my total support.

I will not emulate the chair who did the walking about bit and spent an hour a week in my office telling me how important he was and of all his woes. I don't think he had a clue what was going on in the department but I knew in detail about who he had said what to during the past week. I should not have been privy to a lot of this information.

In other words, the walking about needs to be about the staff and not about you. I really benefited from the visits of my role model but took to working anywhere but my office during the reign of his successor.

[anthroid]

You're absolutely right.  There is no point in walking around if it isn't about the faculty and staff.  Heck, my faculty don't even know I'm thisclose to a contract for my second book.  I'll let someone know (probably the department gossip) once I've signed an actual contract.

[oldchair]

You're absolutely right.  There is no point in walking around if it isn't about the faculty and staff.  Heck, my faculty don't even know I'm thisclose to a contract for my second book.  I'll let someone know (probably the department gossip) once I've signed an actual contract.

Congrats.  Me too, but I'll tell everyone.

[science_expat]

I'm not a Chair, but think I'd go for the gossip over everyone....

And congratulations, Anthroid!