I work in an office where the same floor is shared by multiple teams that dont work together, but work for the same parent company. I sit right next to a team that has a totally different job than I do — the work we do doesnt overlap at all — and while Ive become friendly with a couple of people who sit near me, I dont interact with most of them at all other than saying hi in the kitchen.
The problem is that sometimes the other team is super loud. There are a few people whose voices carry all the time, and occasionally a group of them will congregate in an open area not far from my desk for what seem like impromptu team meetings or snacks. I spend a lot of time on the phone for my role, and sometimes I cant hear a meeting or client when this happens.
Since I dont know most of them, it feels like asking them to quiet down would seem like scolding from an unrelated party, but it really disrupts my work. How do I address this issue without making enemies of another team?
In interpersonal dilemmas like this, you might feel anxious or confused about the proper next step. That makes sense, because things like this arent covered in the employee handbook! And your co-workers arent malicious. Arguably the main problem here is the open office.
Still, its important to remember that you are at work to work, and if your environment hinders your productivity, thats something you — and your company — should care about.
Having to share a workspace with loud coworkers can be incredibly distracting and frustrating The chatter, phone calls, laughter, and all-around noise can make it difficult to concentrate on your own work It’s enough to drive anyone crazy!
While you can’t necessarily control your coworkers’ behavior, you can take steps to minimize the impact of their loudness on your own productivity and sanity. With some patience understanding and clever problem-solving, you can create an environment that enables you to do your best work, even amongst the ruckus.
Why You Should Address Bothersome Noise
Putting up with constant noise from your coworkers isn’t just annoying – it can seriously hinder your work performance. Here are some of the reasons you should take action when office chatter becomes too disruptive:
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It’s distracting. Listening to your coworkers’ conversations, even unintentionally, divides your attention. This makes it harder to focus on tasks that require concentration.
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It’s stressful. Exposure to excessive noise triggers your body’s “fight or flight” response. Over time, this can cause anxiety, tension headaches, and burnout.
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It reduces productivity. Studies show that workers in noisy offices tend to have more difficulty solving complex problems and show less creativity. They also make more mistakes.
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It damages morale. Trying to work amidst chaos can leave you feeling frustrated and resentful toward your loud coworkers. This negativity harms team harmony.
Clearly, excessive noise isn’t merely an annoyance – it can seriously undermine your work. With so much at stake, it pays to take proactive steps to improve the situation.
First Steps: Assess and Observe
Before attempting to handle loud coworkers, take time to objectively assess the situation. This will help you understand the source of the noise and determine the most constructive solutions.
Pinpoint the source
Track where the disruptive noise is coming from. Is it from specific people, certain departments, or a widespread office culture? Take notes on who the main offenders are, and when and where the noise tends to be loudest.
Observe noise patterns
Pay attention to any patterns in the noise. Is it worse at certain times of day? Does it coincide with particular activities like phone calls or meetings? Understanding any trends will help you predict and prepare for noisy periods.
Reflect on your own habits
It can be tempting to blame loud coworkers, but reflect honestly on your own behavior as well. Be sure you aren’t contributing to a noisy environment with loud calls or frequent chatter. Consider if your workspace setup exacerbates sound.
Talk to other coworkers
Get a sense of whether others are bothered by the noise or if it’s just you. Discussing with colleagues can reveal helpful insights about the office dynamic. Just be discreet and avoid fueling negativity.
Reduce Distractions in Your Direct Workspace
While you may not be able to control the whole office, you can take steps to carve out a quieter space for yourself. Using noise reduction strategies right around your own desk will help you stay focused.
Use noise blocking accessories
Technology offers some great options to dampen coworker noise. Invest in good noise cancelling headphones and play soft background music or white noise to stay in flow. If chatting is an issue, consider putting up an office divider.
Strategically schedule focused work
If there are certain times when the office is really loud, avoid doing heads-down work then. Save your most challenging projects for early mornings or after the noise subsides in the late afternoons.
Book quiet spaces
See if you can reserve meeting rooms or phone booths during really chaotic times. Step away and work in a quieter setting for a while to regain focus.
Ask colleagues for help
Politely request that nearby coworkers keep noise to a minimum around your desk. Most will oblige if you explain you have an important deadline. Enlist their support in upholding a quiet zone.
Work remotely when possible
When the office is untenable, look into any work from home options your company offers. Even switching up your location once a week can provide a break from office noise.
Proactively Help Maintain a Quieter Office Culture
Rather than just making your own bubble of calm, see what you can do to help create a quieter shared office environment. Subtly encouraging better noise etiquette from coworkers establishes norms that everyone can benefit from.
Set an example with your own behavior
Be the change you wish to see! Model good behavior by monitoring your own noise level, using headphones for calls, and holding conversations away from desks. People often follow the standard others set.
Suggest incentives for quiet
Propose ideas to reward noise reduction, like having a weekly quiet hour. Or allow employees who maintain quiet zones the privilege of working from home on Fridays. Incentives motivate people to self-monitor behavior.
Provide noise etiquette reminders
Periodically send friendly reminders about noise courtesy through email or office signage. For example, label certain areas as collaboration spaces versus quiet zones. A little nudge goes a long way.
Offer noise buffers
Look for ways to absorb excess noise through office layout adjustments. Place supplies of headphones near desks. Add felt pads to furniture legs and doors. Hang acoustic panels or add plants. Every bit helps.
Conduct team trainings
Schedule a team meeting on workplace noise reduction. Discuss causes, effects, and solutions. Role play good practices. Framing noise as a group challenge sparks motivation to improve.
Politely Discuss with Loud Coworkers
If general hints don’t work, you may need to politely but directly address noisy coworkers. Speaking up assertively yet kindly can produce real change. Make the conversation about resolving a mutual challenge, not blame.
Reframe as help, not confrontation
Don’t attack loud coworkers. Instead, explain their volume makes work difficult for you and ask how you can mutually solve the issue. People respond better to problem-solving than accusations.
Provide specific examples
Cite precise instances of disturbing noise and exactly how it affected you, like being unable to finish an important call. Concrete details will resonate more than vague complaints. Offer to track instances.
Focus on solutions, not venting
While it may feel gratifying to vent about loud coworkers, avoid making it a session just to complain. Emphasize finding practical ways to adjust behavior going forward.
Listen to their perspective
There may be reasons your coworkers are loud, like office culture or job duties. Listen openly and acknowledge their realities, too. Discuss compromises accounting for both viewpoints.
Follow up
Check in periodically after your talk to reinforce expectations, praise positive changes, and discuss any backsliding. Consistent follow up increases the likelihood of lasting improvement.
Involve Management When Necessary
Ifneighboring conversations, outbursts, or speakerphone calls still regularly disrupt your work even after direct requests, loop in supervisors. But document thoroughly first and request solutions, not punishment.
Record specific disturbances
Note each occurrence, like daily loud personal calls. Include dates, times, sources, witnesses, etc. Quantifying the frequency demonstrates an ongoing issue needing formal intervention.
Outline how it obstructs work
Give concrete examples of tasks you couldn’t complete, calls you missed, or deadlines you couldn’t meet due to excessive noise. Impact on productivity will concern leadership.
Suggest constructive outcomes
Along with reporting the problem, propose potential fixes, like designated quiet spaces or sound-dampening partitioning. Solutions-focused ideas are more likely to get buy-in.
Emphasize mutual benefit
Frame addressing the noise as ultimately helping the whole team by removing work barriers. If some individuals’ behavior hurts the majority, managers have extra motivation to intervene.
Discuss a plan for change
Talk through how leadership can monitor progress on a noise reduction plan, like doing periodic walkthroughs or designating noise observers. Create a timeline for reassessing after changes.
Learn to Cope with Some Degree of Noise
Realistically, the hustle and bustle of an office won’t disappear. Some chatty coworkers also simply have different working styles. As frustrating as it can be, accept that you’ll likely need to adapt to tolerate some noise.
Adjust expectations
Let go of rigid ideas of a “perfectly quiet” workspace. There will always be some fluctuations in office sounds. Mentally prepare for more flexibility.
Take breaks
Use noise as a trigger for sanctioned breaks where you temporarily get distance. Take a brief walk after a loud encounter or join a colleague for a cup of coffee outside.
Use white noise apps
Apps producing soothing nature sounds or white noise can help lull you into focus even when coworkers’ voices faintly register in the background. Having an auditory anchor keeps you grounded.
Get absorbed in work
Find tasks that thoroughly captivate your attention in the midst of chaos, like data analysis projects or online research. Concentrating deeply on compelling projects makes noise recede.
Use relaxation techniques
When loud coworkers start to frustr
Option 1: Approach your manager or HR
Kick the ball to leadership and see what they think.
Be careful not to make the issue emotional. Dont ruminate on how your coworkers are inconsiderate or how you dont want to tattle on them or make enemies, but you are at the end of your rope.
Instead, keep your focus on work. Let your higher-ups know that this issue is affecting your productivity and interrupting your meetings with clients. Let them know that the quality of work is your top priority, and you need a space where you can perform your duties optimally.
The only issue with this approach? It requires top-down action, which might not get the job done. It could come off as petty or passive-aggressive, and at the end of the day, if HR doesnt act, it could be ineffective.
Option 2: Go directly to the source
If youre friendly enough with the group, go talk to them. Being direct is almost always a great first move.
Your coworkers arent mind-readers. Maybe they think you love eavesdropping on their conversations!
Waltz over to one of their desks and let them know the situation. “Hey, Jen! Im wondering if I can get your help. Ive been having a hard time taking client calls when your team talks openly in the office near my desk. Do you think you could start moving your meetings to the conference room?”
The issue with this approach is that its hard to change group dynamics for one persons convenience. It sounds like this group has conversations throughout the day and is generally social. Asking the group to change their habits might stick for a week, but isnt a good long-term strategy.
7 tips to dealing with that LOUD co-worker…
How do you handle a noisy coworker?
Follow these steps to properly handle loud coworkers: 1. Try to ignore the noise If your coworker is only occasionally noisy, they may quiet down and return to their work eventually. Assess how easily you’re able to work through the distractions.
How do you deal with a loud co-worker?
Find ways to reduce the stress caused by your loud co-worker. Step out of the office for a minute, eat your favorite snack, or fidget with something. Finding a way to reduce the stress of the situation may make it easier to handle in the long term. Tell your boss.
How do you handle a loud person in the office?
When someone is loud in the office, it’s like they are personally attacking you with their voice. Having loud co-workers in the workplace can be a monster to tackle. Customers come and go, but you could be stuck with your co-workers for years. The tips below should help you handle a loud person in the office. Ignore them.
What if an employee comes to you about a loud person?
If you have an employee come to you about a loud person in the office, specifically a co-worker, then there are some things you can do to address the situation. Address it openly in the office. I once had an employee laughing and talking loudly in the office. I said her name in a loud, stern tone that everyone reacted to.
