What is the effect of music in the workplace

Can we stimulate a positive attitude and performance? Does it distract or on the contrary stimulate concentration? What kinds of music are most beneficial?

Performance and speed gains

Several researchers agree that music improves productivity at work. According to Dr. Amit (Padnani, 2012), music would have a favorable impact on an environment considered too noisy or too quiet for employees. The same would apply when the tasks to be performed are repetitive or routine. Musical stimulation would be comparable to eating a good dessert since it would produce dopamine in the brain.

Dr. Lesiuk (Padnani, 2012) adds that music reduces stress through the influence of good humor, which allows for greater openness to make more thoughtful decisions. If they make their own musical choices, experienced staff perform better when listening to music, while novices are more easily distracted.

For his part, Dr. Haake (2010) believes that music facilitates the organization of new information in the brain; sharpens attention and promotes commitment, even among people who are not musicians a priori. Following a study that he carried out with two control groups, one of which was listening individually in stereo, he was able to observe a productivity gain of 4.1% and speed 31.2% among factory workers.

A good mood

In general, music has a positive effect on mood. When it is joyful, its effect is stimulating on routine or repetitive tasks of daily life, making them more pleasant to perform. The present moment is more pleasant and the good mood effect is activated.

This positive attitude begins on the road to work, during which listening to music is particularly beneficial, thus preparing them to tackle a new day from an anti-stress and preventive angle on emotional health, especially if they are going through traffic congestion. Meditation is also recommended at the start of the day and during it.

Creativity

Last-minute work, tasks that require creativity are much easier with listening to music, such as painting; the sculpture; the editorial staff who find their source of inspiration there.

Music styles at work

According to other studies, musical choice is decisive in favor of productivity. Jazz music; rock; popular; heavy metal; hip-hop and classical would produce good results when listened to while working.

Different work environments allow workers to listen to their own favorite music, most of the time with voices, as it enhances their workplace. Another study establishes a link of underperformance with the lyric songs, which are found in the “playlist” of popular background music (Barmes. 2014). These same “playlist” are produced by employees or purchased from companies that produce them.

In this regard, staff would mistakenly believe that music would make them more productive, while the results only show an influence on the positive attitude. According to Barnes, only slow instrumental music, around 60 bps, would favor workers’ concentration and productivity. As little as fifteen minutes of listening would be enough to improve concentration for thirty minutes.

In environments sensitized by the distraction of voices, instrumental background music is programmed to replay the same songs at different intervals of the day, which becomes boring over the weeks.

The generations

Listening to music at work is not unanimous. Generations Y (born after 1980) and Z (millennials) are particularly adept at this practice when their employer grants them the right and the direct clientele is not disturbed.

Particularly among generation Z, pleasure represents an important part of their work and music, in particular, that which they advocate, is a pleasure that contributes to their retention, at least for a season, especially since ” they occupy posts where there is a significant shortage in certain regions, such as catering; retail trade and tourism services.

The older people are, the less they enjoy listening to music at work. It is more a question of work habits and generation.

Headphones

Employees who prefer to use headphones, claiming to find more motivation to work. It seems that music would be an interesting solution to the need to stimulate generations Y and Z, who want to use their headphones because their music is DBM (Digital Black Music); rap or techno is of little interest to Generation X (born between 1960 and 1980) and baby boomers (born before 1960).

Given the intergenerational differences of opinion on the interest of integrating music in a work environment, the use of headphones would be a solution to favor. However, headphones inevitably cause a downside, caused by a lack of social interaction, partnership, and teamwork, unless an administrative policy regulates their use within certain time slots.

Such a policy is important because it avoids communication problems and judgments against people who may appear to prefer to isolate themselves from the group behind their headphones.

Prevention of risks and surrounding noise

Listening to music is also good for covering up surrounding noise and facilitating concentration. This is the case of Jean-François who is a metallurgist in a factory. His work is routine, but his attention must be constant because of his safety and that of his teammates depends on it.

When it comes to listening to music at work, there is no legislative provision, as long as it is safe for you and your colleagues; that it does not hurt anyone and that regulation is clearly established in accordance with the workplace.

Music in everyday life

There are many emotional benefits to listening to music at work. Even if musical preferences differ from one person to another, work teams can agree on time slots and a variety of musical styles that they can listen to, with or without headphones.

Music contributes to creating a pleasant atmosphere and this well-being is important in everyday life.

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