Help with a Loud-talker
Caroliso
352 Posts
Here's the day's "unusual" problem.
We have a lovely EE, a young man, who is well-liked and does a reasonably good job.
The problem is he is an EXTREMELY loud talker. His normal volume is decibels louder than anyone else I've ever heard. His job takes him to the halls often, and if he stops to talk with anyone I hear about it. Well, that's a slight exaggeration, but it's a problem.
His supervisor says she has talked to him about keeping his voice down when he's out and about, and about not lingering in the halls to talk to folks, but something else is needed, the problem persists. I've had conversations with him myself, and I've tried lowering my own voice to see if he responds in kind without even thinking of it, and I think he actually does but it's still loud.
I don't want the guy to start feeling overly self-conscious, so I'm postponing talking to him myself until I have something new and constructive to say, a technique to offer, anything.
Can anyone make a suggestion (other than getting him a job on the stage or selling peanuts at Fenway Park)?
Thanks.
We have a lovely EE, a young man, who is well-liked and does a reasonably good job.
The problem is he is an EXTREMELY loud talker. His normal volume is decibels louder than anyone else I've ever heard. His job takes him to the halls often, and if he stops to talk with anyone I hear about it. Well, that's a slight exaggeration, but it's a problem.
His supervisor says she has talked to him about keeping his voice down when he's out and about, and about not lingering in the halls to talk to folks, but something else is needed, the problem persists. I've had conversations with him myself, and I've tried lowering my own voice to see if he responds in kind without even thinking of it, and I think he actually does but it's still loud.
I don't want the guy to start feeling overly self-conscious, so I'm postponing talking to him myself until I have something new and constructive to say, a technique to offer, anything.
Can anyone make a suggestion (other than getting him a job on the stage or selling peanuts at Fenway Park)?
Thanks.
Comments
HR Hat
Best wishes.
Only let him take it off with permission, and make him write: "Please mistress, may I speak now?"
In the call-center my manager is always able to ask the reps if their headset is working fine or if they need any equipment to accommodate them. Perhaps that is a similar angle you could use.
Good luck!
Some people do have louder voices that carry more than others.
Years ago, we had a "low talker". Was that a Seinfeld episode? Our low talker talked so soft you could barely hear her even if you were alone in a small office.
Its possible your loud talker has a hearing problem or its also possible that he is seeking a form of attention.
Good suggestions, all. I'm going with the direct approach, keeping in mind the potential for hearing-related issues.
HRQ mentioned the CEO and the cell phone skit. If this guy walked around with a cell phone it would drive me off the deep end -- that is a situation that produces an irrational ire in me, i confess!! Thank goodness for small favors.
He doesn't yell - he just has a great "stage voice." His voice projects really well naturally.
Some of us have told him that his voice carries. The point really hit home at a managers retreat. We did skits poking fun at ourselves (corp office) for the amusement of the school directors. The VP played the part of CEO, and she wandered around shrieking into her cellphone. The rest of us played ourselves, unable to hear a darned thing because of her loud voice. He later asked the VP "am I really THAT bad?" She confirmed it for him. x:-)
Fortunately he has a great sense of humor and doesn't mind poking fun at himself either.
He has since made a conscious effort to tone it down, and he goes outside or to the conference room with his cell phone to make sensitive calls.