How to tell a noisy coworker to shut up without making them hate you

Compromise.

Taylor recommends that you offer a compromise, if necessary, such as morning or afternoon times being more critical for you to have more quiet time. "Remember to thank your colleague for being open to listening to you. And ultimately circle back to a positive note, such as a common project or a topic of interest," Taylor says.

If that doesn't work — or you're not comfortable with having that conversation — continue reading for additional suggestions...

Bring the issue up with the entire office so that no one feels singled out.

"Posting an informal survey of the top five office pet peeves on the lunchroom bulletin board, or raising the survey results in a meeting is a safe way to gently remind everyone of some basic office etiquette," says Kerr.

"In fact, everyone working in an open office concept should talk openly about the challenges of working in that kind of environment and agree upon some basic guidelines to ensure everyone plays nice in the sandbox."

Designate an official quiet zone.

Use fun signs and simple reminders that certain areas are intended to be places where people can focus and work in peace, Kerr suggests. "You also need to ensure then that there are ample spaces where people can meet to have conversations."

Ask how you can be a better neighbor.

Compromise is usually the secret to conflict resolution, and this is no exception, says Taylor. "The golden rule is a two-way street. What if your cube neighbor dislikes your jacket hanging over the adjoining cube wall? What if you unwittingly slam your cube cabinet 20 times a day (even if you think the noise is drowned out by his thunderous voice)?

"Your best approach with a sensitive issue like this is to find out if there's anything you can do on your end. And ideally, your willingness to meet in the middle should be brought up early once the topic is on the table," she says.

Be sure that you're not over-reacting.

Have you done an objective reality check? Are you new to the environment and unaccustomed to the noise factor?

"Make sure that the issue is not partially your own, such as noise sensitivity on your part or really needing your space," Taylor says. "You don't want to finally secure that coveted cube down the hall, only to find another 'nightmare of a neighbor.'"

Make use of headphones.

Again, this isn't a great permanent solution, but it can help.

"You don't want to be seen as being rude, but proactively explaining to people that you work best when you block out all the background noise can smooth any ruffled feathers," says Kerr. "You may even implement a headphones etiquette rule, such as: Don't disturb or interrupt people wearing headphones unless it's absolutely critical."

Lead by example.

When someone is talking too loudly and you know it's upsetting the people around you, take the lead by saying, in a softer voice, "I want to hear what you have to say, but I don't want to disturb the people around us, so can we step into a conference room or maybe chat about this at a better time?"

Find out if they're aware of the volume of their voice.

In extreme cases of loud talkers, it may be necessary to take them aside and ask if they are aware of the volume of their voice.

This can be difficult and uncomfortable — but your colleague might not even be aware of the issue and may appreciate the fact that you're letting them know (especially if others in the office are affected).

If your colleague doesn't take it well, apologize and explain that it's not a personal attack or a comment on their character, says Kerr. "Reiterate that your primary concern is that you really need to focus on your work at that moment and so you think it's a reasonable request."

Be direct.

When all else fails, be direct.

If conversations among your colleagues are distracting you, it's okay to be frank and let them know, so long as you're polite. "Ask them if they wouldn't mind taking their conversation elsewhere," Kerr suggests. "Explaining that you have an important client call to make or a looming deadline that requires your full concentration will help make your request seem eminently reasonable."

Allow your colleague to save face.

No one likes to hear that they're a blabbermouth, Taylor explains. "When you approach your colleague, leave room for saving face. You can address the lack of sound-proof walls, poor acoustics in the area, your sensitivity to noise and/or the occasional need to rise above all the clutter by speaking loud to hear yourself think."

Giving your coworkers an out helps soften the criticism; makes you appear more empathetic and reasonable; and makes you more persuasive, she says.

Relocate.

This isn't an ideal solution either, but if nothing else works, you may have to scope out other possible cube locations and request a "relocation" from your boss.

"Prepare your thoughts in advance, let your boss know you've already broached the subject with your colleague, and discuss the ramifications it has on your work," she says. "The downside of approaching your manager is possible fallout — your relationship with your neighbor and general work environment may become more strained. You'll have to weigh all options before making a decision."