Although you may want to give him a hint, it is possible that he is trying to give you a hint. Many managers know that one way to keep employee visits brief is to stand up when an employee enters the office.
In addition to looking at him, you should take a look at yourself. Have you fallen into a habit of showing up at your manager’s office just for a friendly visit, rather than to discuss larger work-related matters? While friendly visits are important and should be encouraged, there can be too much of a good thing. Perhaps your manager is subtly telling you that it is time to reduce these types of visits.
At the same time, if your manager is consistently cutting your conversations short or refusing to engage in a real dialogue with you, that is a real problem. There is one key question that can help determine what is happening here. When you enter his office, simply ask, “Is this a good time to talk?” If he says, “Yes,” you should sit down and talk. And if he says, “No,” you should ask, “When is a better time to meet?” This approach shows your respect for his time, while still setting a time for the two of you to sit down and talk.
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