25 annoying communication habits — of other people

The communication habits and styles of other people can be awfully irritating. It's never you and I. It's always someone else.

That's the consensus in my training programs when I ask people about communication hang-ups, quirks, and pet peeves. Okay, I admit I'm certainly guilty of a few (not saying which ones!) How about you?

Complete this sentence: I get annoyed with other people and their communication habits when they:

1. Interrupt me

2. Finish my sentences

3. Fail to look at me

4. Chew gum loudly

5. Type on the computer while we're on the phone

6. Mumble on a voicemail message

7. Lack clarity in project directions

8. Write their "out of office" message with spelling errors

9. Complain, criticize, complain, criticize....

10. Say their phone number so fast on a voicemail that I can't get it after replaying it seven times

11. Ask me how I am and their facial expression clearly reveals they aren't listening and don't truly care

12. Keep repeating information and making conversations and correspondence painfully long

13. Inject nervous giggles or laughter into conversations that simply aren't funny

14. Forget to say their name in a voicemail message

15. Try to impress me by "topping" whatever I say

16. Get distracted with their gadgets and technology in meetings, conversations, and networking events

17. Talk too fast or too slow

18. Give wimpy handshakes

19. Send a 3-page email when one paragraph would suffice

20. Plan lengthy meetings with no agenda, and then order food

21. Speak louder to people with accents

22.  Deliver presentations in a monotone voice

23. Eat while on the phone

24. Call people out (in social media) in public instead of sending a private message

25. Forget to update their voicemail to let people know they are on vacation for 2 weeks

The red flags are up my friend. What can you do to improve your communication?