Back to previous page

FREE Career Information From Top Schools!

Recent Articles of Interest

Noisy Coworkers: 5 Ways To Deal With It

by Frank Barnett

We all come across some noisy coworkers during our working careers. We have to deal with them some times by telling them politely to stop but it is not necessarily successful. At other times we can try to be creative and take the help of others in this. Just by doing a these simple things we can deal with these noisy coworkers.

Wear Headphones - Sound canceling headphones are good for this - but they're also usually rather costly. There are some far less costly and low-tech choices out there, however. Over-ear, meaning big ones which cover the ears, or in-ear buds generally block out many interruptions, and the right music could be just the thing to lower one's stress levels or to help one to focus. Music with lyrics can be very distracting, however, so this idea might not be ideal for you.

Purchase a white noise machine. You will find a wide variety of white noise products to assist you in attaining speech privacy in your open office. They run the gamut from quite inexpensive CD's which loop a white noise track, to premium multi-channel machines which can treat the whole office or even an entire building. The optimal solution for you is dependent upon how big an area you wish to treat. Locate a quiet area for yourself. The majority of offices will have conference rooms which aren't in use, and which make a nice place for you, when you have to remove yourself from distracting office noises and concentrate on your work.

It is better to discuss your concerns with your seniors and still better if you can offer constructive suggestions. A proper noise management policy may go a long way in helping you and others. Remember to keep to the agenda and not use the meeting to vent your other grievances, or it may lead to you loosing credibility. Remember, your aim is the betterment of the working environment and making the team more productive. Complaining in such meetings is not advisable.

Share any worries with noisy coworkers--this may be hard, and must clearly be thought out well. Ask to talk to the noisy coworker privately and be candid. Do not hint, but remain diplomatic. After all, you've got to work with this coworker. Above all, do not engage in the "backdoor approach" of making snide comments in front of other members of the team. Such a passive-aggressive move typically only offends the noisy coworkers and is rarely effective in the end.

Above all, don't just sit there and grit your teeth. There's more to the "tools of the trade" than just a computer and a telephone. Your environment and workspace are part of the equation. Addressing open office speech privacy concerns early can save you a lot of stress!

Noisy coworkers can definitely pose a problem in any kind of business environment. However, there are several ways you can deal with it. The first option is to kindly ask your coworker to keep the noise down, if that doesn't work try sound masking. The use of a white noise machine can be very effective. Headphones are a cheaper option, although they come in different price ranges as well. If concerns about speech privacy need to be addressed, speak to a supervisor or manager who can implement a noise management policy or the like.

Published December 1st, 2008

Filed in Career