Steps You Can Take for a Noisy Co-Worker

For many people, noisy co-workers are the most annoying distraction. Also, if the noise levels in your workplace get too loud, it could create a toxic work environment. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to quiet them without offending anyone. But if you can't get your work done, because your colleagues are too loud, it's probably time for you to act — tactfully.

Make Sure You Aren't the Problem

Before approaching your noisy work neighbors, take some time to assess the situation. Is it possible that you're over-reacting? Everyone has different noise tolerance levels. It's possible that you're just overly sensitive to the clatter surrounding you. If you think that may be the case, consider buying a pair of earbuds or disposable ear plugs to wear while you work. Try using them for a week or two, and then, if the noise level is still bothering you, think about discussing the noise level with those around you.

Bring the Problem Up in a Group Atmosphere

It's a good idea to discuss the noise level as a group at first. This way, it doesn't seem like you're accusing any one person of being loud and disruptive. Your noisy co-workers probably already know that their voices carry — they just don't realize they're speaking loudly. So chances are, during the group discussion, they'll still get the hint and quite down.

Confront Your Noisy Co-Workers Directly

If the noise level in your workplaces is still a major issue after your group discussion, you might need to confront your noisy co-workers. Anytime you need to discuss an issue with a colleague, you should do it in a way that's assertive, but not pushy. Ideally, you want to get your point across and work to resolve the issue without creating unnecessary conflict — the last thing you want to do is create a toxic work environment.

It's a good idea to approach the topic by first praising the person, and then, telling them how you feel. For example, you might say something like, "You know, the stories you tell are amazing, but sometimes when you talk, your voice carries. Would you trying to speak a bit quieter when you talk?"

You can't predict how noisy co-workers may react when you confront them, but after you bring the subject up, consider suggesting a compromise. To do this, you might ask your colleagues to use ear buds when listening to music or limit the non-work-related conversations during specific hours.

Consider Relocating

If all else fails, you could see if there's a way to relocate your workstation. If you work in an office, your boss might let you move to a cubicle at the end of the row. That way, you aren't completely surrounded by noisy co-workers. Or, you could see if there's a conference room available to use when you really need to stay focused on the task at hand.

Noisy co-workers can be difficult to deal with, but if the excessive noise bothers you, it's probably bothering others, too. They just might not have the courage to speak up. Instead of ignoring the situation, hoping it will fix itself, confront the problem head-on, and work with you co-workers to resolve the situation as fast as possible.

Photo courtesy of imagerymajestic at freedigitalphotos.net