Ask Sue - Working with Loud Talkers
Dear Sue: I work with "a few" very loud talkers. Some of my coworkers use the hands-free telephone headsets, and they don't realize just how loud they can be while on phone calls. I have repeatedly asked my closest coworker to "be a little quite - I can't hear the person on my phone", but to no avail.
We sit in 4 ft tall cubicles, and there is not the opportunity for more sound-proofing at this time.
To top all things off, I'm subjected to all the personal phone calls my coworkers make, many, many times each day. From 7am - 4pm. I'm not the only one--others can hear these coworkers phone conversations too. We joke & make comments about what we hear. We've asked our boss to speak with them, nothing happens. I'm ready to stand up and tell my coworker to shut-up, but I'm afraid I'd be the one fired.
Will you please reply to my plea? I want to be able to go into the next team meeting and hand out some kind of literature (to address this specific topic) to the whole department (as not to single out anyone). - Annoyed
Sue Says: I understand your frustration. Although I've addressed this issue before, you’ve prompted me to do it again. I put together a little something that I hope will do the trick for you. Bring it to your next meeting and let me know if it helps. I hope it does.
To: The Oblivious
You’ve been spotted in most every venue; the office, the airport, the restroom, the finest restaurants, to name a few. You can be with one or hundreds of others, yet somehow you act as if you are all alone. Some people give you dirty looks, others comment; some are straightforward, others more indirect. But for some reason you don’t “get it” and continue to be a source of irritation to others.
We all enjoy the ease of wearing headphones, using speakerphones and talking on a cell phone, but the convenience we enjoy shouldn’t be at the expense of others. To make things a little easier, please note the following guidelines, which are for all of us, including you:
Notice your surroundings. You may be engaged in what you think is a private conversation, but unless you are in a separate room with the door closed, your conversation can be heard by others who would rather not be hearing what you are saying.
Be considerate. Don’t force your coworkers (or strangers) to listen to your personal conversations.
Change your location. If you need to carry on a private conversation, go somewhere private.
Speak quieter than you usually do. When wearing headphones, speaking on speaker or talking on a cell phone people tend to speak louder than usual. So that you do not disturb others, speak quieter, not louder when talking.
Turn the (listening) volume down. If your volume is too high, you will think you need to talk loudly and others will hear both you and the person on the other end of the call.
Be discreet. If you wouldn’t say it over a loudspeaker, don’t say it. Your voice is amplified in open surroundings whether you’re aware of it or not.
Be responsive. If people have asked you to speak more quietly, do what is asked. Don’t assume the other person is being too sensitive; by the time someone is irritated enough to say something, it’s likely you’ve been a nuisance for some time.
Take a hint. Some people are less direct than others. If people are joking and making comments about your loud talking or your conversations, get a clue; it isn’t funny—it’s annoying.
Sue Morem is a professional speaker, trainer and syndicated columnist. She is author of the newly released 101 Tips for Graduates and How to Gain the Professional Edge, Second Edition. You can contact her by email at asksue@suemorem.com or visit her web site at http://www.suemorem.com.
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