Train employees to keep their voices down
Perhaps one of the most efficient and obvious ways to reduce noise in a contact center is to train your staff to lower their voices. In coaching and training, be sure to iterate to your employees the importance of balancing their volume levels. Teaching your staff to speak at lower volumes and be respectful to other employees will drastically reduce noise levels in the contact center.
Install white noise machines
Installing white noise features, such as water machines, can help reduce unnecessary background noise often found in a contact center. Also, adding plants and similar features, such as fabric screens and artwork on walls, contributes to filling voided space and lessening distracting noise.
Separate employees with partitions
Installing barriers to separate employees' desks is a very efficient way to reduce noise levels. The more separation that can be put between employees in a contact center, effectively creating more barriers for sound to cross, the more likely it is that employees will be less distracted by noise and will have an easier time focusing on their work.
Reduce staff density
The most efficient way to reduce contact center noise is to reduce staff density. The more agents packed into a small office space, the more noise will be created. The ideal scenario is to have about 120 square feet per employee. Giving agents more room to breathe makes the contact center a more relaxed and natural-feeling environment, reducing employee stress levels and, in turn, noise levels.
What’s Next?
Before moving forward to implement any of these tips, be sure to speak with your employees and collect their ideas on how to reduce noise levels in your company’s contact center. Your employees will often understand best where the sound comes from since they are in the office throughout the day.
Lastly, if you know of any time-tested tips on reducing noise levels in a room, please share them, whether they are new or old. Your contribution will help create a better and more efficient working environment for all.