My coworker told me I was yelling on the radio and I had no idea

Been on the truck for about 8 years now. Never thought twice about how I talked on the intercom. Then one new guy pulls me aside after a call and says "man you sound angry every time you key up." I was shocked. I thought I was just being clear and direct. Turns out I was practically shouting into the mic. So I started forcing myself to slow down and drop my voice a notch. Took a solid two weeks to break the habit. Now dispatch actually responds without that awkward pause. Has anyone else had someone point out a tone thing you never noticed yourself?

3 comments

3 Comments

bennett.patricia16d agoMost Upvoted

Hmm, I kinda see it the other way honestly. If you're in emergency services or a busy job, being loud and direct isn't wrong, it's just how it works. People get used to their own voice and style over time, and a new guy coming in and telling you to change his standards is a bit much. You were doing your job for 8 years without issue, so maybe dispatch and your crew already knew you and adjusted. Changing how you talk just because one person commented could mess with your flow and make you second guess yourself every time you key up. I'd say take his feedback with a grain of salt and keep doing what worked for you.

danielb4316d ago

Eight years is a lot of time to build the wrong habits though.

valh3216d ago

And honestly, the guy probably didn't mean any harm either, he might just be used to a quieter work environment and got startled. But that doesn't mean you need to overhaul your whole communication style because of one comment. Stick with what works for you and let the new guy adjust to your rhythm instead.