I've encounter several times when I am talking to my boss that his phone rings. He picks up the phone and starts talking. The talking could last for 5 minutes or 15 minutes, depending on the content of the call.
Maybe I should return later instead of waiting next to him endlessly, doing nothing but having frustration? However, I think it is rude to interject by saying: "I should look for you later." Moreover, the matter we were originally discussing is not finished so maybe I shouldn't go?
It'll depend heavily on your boss and his personality. Most of the time, when I've encountered a situation such as this, my boss has, after a few minutes, waved me off, at which point I go back to my desk and either shoot him an email or just come by later, to see when it would be a good time to finish our talk.
If that doesn't happen, and it becomes too awkward, I'd suggest standing up and moving towards the door, pointing at your watch and holding up 3 to 5 fingers, implying that you'll come back in 5 minutes. Go grab yourself a cup of water, some coffee, or check your email, and then return. If they're still not off the phone, well, keep waiting I guess.
In a perfect world your boss would let you know verbally what to do as soon as the phone rang. Most offices have caller ID, so they have a good idea of who is calling before they answer the phone. Normally I would expect one of several actions from the person whose office I am in:
When they answer a call they are telling you they need to interrupt your conversation for a new conversation. If they don't use phrases such as these, they are telling you to leave their office. I would suggest saying "I see you have a phone call, I will let you go, talk to you later" If your conversation is important, then reschedule it.
Sometimes when you address the issue, by offering to leave, they realize they need to tell you what they expect you to do. They will then utter one of the phrases mentioned above.
Shouldn't the boss be asking this question as well?
Is it professional for either party to extend their call while the other person just stares at the walls?
If not, what behavioral expectations should be set?
I would frankly and respectfully ask my boss this question and negotiate a mutual agreed and accepted protocol.
Resolve the issue with communication and modesty.
Ask your boss for a 10 minute chat.
Raise the issue - but do it in a humble deprecating way, e.g. "I feel silly for asking but when you get phone calls during our quick meetings, I don't know what I should do - wait for you, walk away, hand-signal "back in 10" or whatever. Please could you give me some direction at to what you think would the best thing to do that would also work well with you."
This way you have basically:
1) Made them aware of the issue (they really may not realize it as an issue - which is their failing)
2) Asked for assistance and guidance - your boss is responsible for that
3) Said "I don't know what to do" which is an important statement to make, when true.
4) Communicated that this makes you feel awkward and uncertain which is not a good feeling to have.
It is rude of your boss to pick up the phone without notifying you what's up.
If the first words out of my boss' mouth to the person on the phone weren't "Excuse me, i'm in a meeting, i'll have to call you back." i would get up and leave.
If he had issues with that i'd tell him that he dismissed me and ended the meeting by taking the call.
