How to Cope With a Noisy Cubicle Partner

Noisy coworkers are a fact of life. While you may not be able to completely obliterate the noise of your office, you can work with your cubicle partner to create a calm, quiet working environment that will help you both succeed. Read on to learn how to cope with a noisy cubicle partner.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Add white noise to help disguise the noise your cubicle partner makes. Try a small desk fan or bring in a white noise machine.

2. Play music from your favorite radio station. Wear a headset to listen to your music and block the noise of your cubicle partner.

3. Wear ear plugs. Ear plugs are terrific when you have a difficult or time-sensitive project to work on because they block out ambient sounds. You can also buy noise-canceling headphones to block ambient noise.

4. Talk to your cubicle partner about lowering her volume. She may be unaware her habits cause an issue at all. Explain that it makes it difficult for you to concentrate and ask for her help.

5. Ask your cubicle partner to agree to some basic rules, like not eating at his desk, not using the speaker phone when you are present, and making personal calls outside of the cubicle.

6. Send a reminder email if the noise level increases after you've spoken to your cubicle partner. Not only does this bring the conversation back to mind, it also gives you written verification if the issue continues and you need to address it with a supervisor.

7. Request a meeting with management to help negotiate an agreement between you and your cubicle partner that both of you can live with. Keep the conversations polite and friendly so you can continue to work well together.

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