How to Get Someone to Stop Talking Loudly on Their Phone
Isolate the loud talker., Ask the caller to stop directly., Offer an alternative., Ask for assistance., Stop a repeat offender at work., Stop a repeat offender at home.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Isolate the loud talker.
This will allow you to address the behavior without embarrassing the caller or making a scene in public.
See if you can take the caller aside to a secluded corner, office, or wall.
Address them formally, and be as polite as possible.Ask the caller something to the effect of, "Sir/ma'am, can you talk a bit lower? Your voice is carrying." Most of the time this should be enough.
You may be dealing with a more stubborn individual or even a hostile one if asked to quiet down.
In this case you want to avoid a confrontation and should not press the matter with the isolation step. -
Step 2: Ask the caller to stop directly.
This risks a confrontation with the loud caller.
Attempt something subtle at first such as making eye contact, throat clearing, head shaking, or hand waving.
The caller’s reaction could vary from compliance, to ignoring you, to hostility.
You can try insisting if you are ignored, but this increases the risk of a hostile reaction.
You might be better off moving to another location yourself or giving the other steps another try.
If subtle gestures don’t work, then tell the person directly something similar to: "Sir/ma'am, can you please talk a bit lower on your phone?"
Sometimes simply asking someone to talk more quietly isn't enough, but if you ask the caller to take the conversation elsewhere, then you can give the caller a way out.
If you're in a public space with alternative rooms like a movie theater with a lobby or doctor's office with a coat room--then suggest the loud caller move there.
You can also offer alternative timing.
This is a bit easier if it's a person you know talking loudly that is more willing to wait at your insistence, but it could work on a stranger.
You can also try striking up a different conversation with the caller.For example you could say: "Sir/ma'am, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, could you please take it into the lobby?" You also could ask something to the effect of: "Sir/ma'am, could you wait until after the movie is over to continue your conversation?" or "Perhaps that can wait until after dinner?" If you are in a restaurant you might try interrupting the caller’s loud call by asking something such as: "What's good on the menu here?"
If you are in a public space, then you may have the benefit of official help from staff attached to the business, restaurant, hotel, or whatever establishment you are in.
This is also a good step to take if the isolation step showed the person to be excessively stubborn or hostile.
Look for uniformed staff or security associated with the business.
Let the official staff/security or even a manager know about the loud caller.
If the caller has proven to be rude or hostile, then you should let this staff member know as well.
Identify the offending caller clearly to the staff, and then let them handle it.
If for some reason the caller repeats the offense, then you should consider asking a higher ranked staff member or manager.
Also file an official complaint with the business office.You can say to a cafe manager something such as: "I've been sitting in the corner booth having a coffee, and the gentleman in the hat at the next table has been loudly yelling in his cell phone for ten minutes.
Can you please do something?"
If the caller is frequently getting loud again, then you may need to take more aggressive action.
Repeat the isolation and direct asking steps if possible.
This will ideally preserve your congeniality with the coworker is repeatedly getting loud on the phone.
If the loud talker continues to return to a higher volume, then what you do will depend on where you are.
If you are with a coworker on the job you may need to ask a supervisor for intervention if the loud talking is interfering with work., If you are at home, and have a third family member or friend available, ask for the third party’s assistance in convincing the loud talker to quiet down.
Repeat the isolation and direct asking steps if possible.
If not, use the relocation options.
In the case of a public scene you should remind your friend, or family member of where they are.
Be prepared to leave the location and let the loud talker know that you are going to leave if the caller won’t quiet down. -
Step 3: Offer an alternative.
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Step 4: Ask for assistance.
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Step 5: Stop a repeat offender at work.
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Step 6: Stop a repeat offender at home.
Detailed Guide
This will allow you to address the behavior without embarrassing the caller or making a scene in public.
See if you can take the caller aside to a secluded corner, office, or wall.
Address them formally, and be as polite as possible.Ask the caller something to the effect of, "Sir/ma'am, can you talk a bit lower? Your voice is carrying." Most of the time this should be enough.
You may be dealing with a more stubborn individual or even a hostile one if asked to quiet down.
In this case you want to avoid a confrontation and should not press the matter with the isolation step.
This risks a confrontation with the loud caller.
Attempt something subtle at first such as making eye contact, throat clearing, head shaking, or hand waving.
The caller’s reaction could vary from compliance, to ignoring you, to hostility.
You can try insisting if you are ignored, but this increases the risk of a hostile reaction.
You might be better off moving to another location yourself or giving the other steps another try.
If subtle gestures don’t work, then tell the person directly something similar to: "Sir/ma'am, can you please talk a bit lower on your phone?"
Sometimes simply asking someone to talk more quietly isn't enough, but if you ask the caller to take the conversation elsewhere, then you can give the caller a way out.
If you're in a public space with alternative rooms like a movie theater with a lobby or doctor's office with a coat room--then suggest the loud caller move there.
You can also offer alternative timing.
This is a bit easier if it's a person you know talking loudly that is more willing to wait at your insistence, but it could work on a stranger.
You can also try striking up a different conversation with the caller.For example you could say: "Sir/ma'am, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, could you please take it into the lobby?" You also could ask something to the effect of: "Sir/ma'am, could you wait until after the movie is over to continue your conversation?" or "Perhaps that can wait until after dinner?" If you are in a restaurant you might try interrupting the caller’s loud call by asking something such as: "What's good on the menu here?"
If you are in a public space, then you may have the benefit of official help from staff attached to the business, restaurant, hotel, or whatever establishment you are in.
This is also a good step to take if the isolation step showed the person to be excessively stubborn or hostile.
Look for uniformed staff or security associated with the business.
Let the official staff/security or even a manager know about the loud caller.
If the caller has proven to be rude or hostile, then you should let this staff member know as well.
Identify the offending caller clearly to the staff, and then let them handle it.
If for some reason the caller repeats the offense, then you should consider asking a higher ranked staff member or manager.
Also file an official complaint with the business office.You can say to a cafe manager something such as: "I've been sitting in the corner booth having a coffee, and the gentleman in the hat at the next table has been loudly yelling in his cell phone for ten minutes.
Can you please do something?"
If the caller is frequently getting loud again, then you may need to take more aggressive action.
Repeat the isolation and direct asking steps if possible.
This will ideally preserve your congeniality with the coworker is repeatedly getting loud on the phone.
If the loud talker continues to return to a higher volume, then what you do will depend on where you are.
If you are with a coworker on the job you may need to ask a supervisor for intervention if the loud talking is interfering with work., If you are at home, and have a third family member or friend available, ask for the third party’s assistance in convincing the loud talker to quiet down.
Repeat the isolation and direct asking steps if possible.
If not, use the relocation options.
In the case of a public scene you should remind your friend, or family member of where they are.
Be prepared to leave the location and let the loud talker know that you are going to leave if the caller won’t quiet down.
About the Author
Alexis Stevens
Creates helpful guides on practical skills to inspire and educate readers.
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