When you work in an office it is supposed to be an environment where co-workers help each other with brainstorming and overcoming difficult problems. However, in most offices this simply isn't the case, as 80% of workers in offices report that they are unable to concentrate on their own work because of distraction of noise created by co-workers. Under these circumstances it would be natural to think that perhaps co-workers are not that valuable after all!

Nevertheless, posing that particular question is not going to help you since you cannot fire an individual from your corporation for making too much noise in the workplace if you are not the firm's owner. For that reason, you need to find viable ways to eliminate the distracting sounds rather than those who are creating them.

Start looking for a workable remedy by letting your manager know the nature of the problem your workers cause. Then he will realize that you find it difficult to concentrate in a noisy environment and that the current situation may lead to less than optimal work outcomes.

After telling your manager about it, it is time for you to confront your noisy coworker. Be gentle, but direct. Nobody likes to be embarrassed or feel attacked. But most of your coworkers are probably reasonable people who deal with the same workplace annoyances you do.

If the co-worker that is creating the noise problem doesn't see it, then you may want to go their supervisor with the issue. Direct supervisors are able to act the part of enabling a solution, they are the architect for learning of those who report to them. As such it is the responsibility of your co-worker's supervisor to help counsel them on the problem they are causing. After a reprimand from their supervisor the majority of noisy co-workers change their noisy ways.

Lastly, you may also want to get yourself a speech privacy, or 'white noise', system. These systems can help cover up much of the distracting noise that comes from a busy office with noisy co-workers, which will decrease their ability to bother you and help you maintain your focus on your work.

Working in an office is supposed to mean that you can count on your colleagues to assist you in brainstorming and solving difficult problems. However, many dedicated workers report their inability to concentrate on their jobs because of the noise created by their co-workers. Well, knowing that problem won't provide you relief from your quagmire because you can't oust someone from a company for causing office noise. You may want to get yourself a speech privacy, or 'white noise', system. These systems can help cover up much of the distracting noise that comes from a busy office.