Indirect and Respectful Approaches
1. Use Nonverbal Cues
• Try making brief eye contact and a gentle gesture like a subtle “shhh” motion or pointing to your ear and then the surroundings.
• If you’re wearing headphones, exaggeratedly putting them on might signal that you’re trying to block out noise.
2. Leverage Group Dynamics
• If others are also disturbed, consider asking a peer (who’s closer in rank or more comfortable with him) to mention it casually.
• You could say something like, “I think it’s getting hard for some of us to concentrate—maybe someone closer to him could say something?”
3. Use Humor or Lightness
• If you have a friendly rapport, you might say with a smile, “That meeting sounds intense! I feel like I’m part of it from here.”
• This can gently highlight the volume without sounding critical.
4. Ask for Help from Facilities or HR
• If this is a recurring issue, you could suggest to your manager or HR that the office might benefit from a reminder about noise levels during meetings.
• That way, it’s framed as a general workplace improvement, not a personal complaint.
5. Send a Friendly Message
• If you’re comfortable, a light message like:
“Hey, just a heads-up—your voice really carries in this space. I know it’s hard to notice while in a meeting, but it’s a bit distracting. Thought I’d mention it in case you weren’t aware!”
This keeps it respectful and helpful.
