We all deal with noisy coworkers at some point in our careers. We must deal with them at times just by telling them nicely to stop, but this is not always successful. At other times, we must be more creative and get help from others in this. Simply by doing a few little things, we can deal better with our noisy coworkers.

Wear Headphones – Sound canceling headphones are great for this – but also are often kind of expensive. There are much less-expensive (and low-tech) options available, though. Over-ear (meaning the big ones that cover your ear) or in-ear buds typically block out most interruptions, and the right music can be just the thing to lower your stress level or help you focus. Music with lyrics tends to be distracting, though, so this option may not be best for you.

A personal white noise machine can help you achieve speech privacy in your open office. There are a huge variety of white noise products for chose from. These products range from the very low cost white noise CDs to very high quality multi channel products which cover entire buildings and offices. The product you choose will depend on your need, how much area you need to cover. Quiet spaces, which most offices have in form of unused conference rooms are a great place to get away from the office banter and do some focused work.

Discuss your concerns in a meeting with your supervisor, offering constructive suggestions-The creation of a team or office-wide noisy management policy can often be quite effective and helpful. However, be careful to avoid using the meeting to vent about your coworkers, as this is not the right forum for this and it may cost you some credibility. Remember: you’re concerned for the team and attempting to make the work environment more productive and comfortable for all. Complaining can make the situation sound like a personal problem.

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 be a part of everyone’s working life. In some instances a kind request to keep the noise down will do the trick; in others, this route won’t do any good. Oftentimes assistance from others can be very helpful. A personal white noise machine can help you obtain speech privacy in an open office. 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 distractions with such things as sound masking can prevent a lot of stress.

- Frank Barnett

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