Publish at October 15 2018 Updated June 13 2024
Can it stimulate a positive attitude and performance? Does it distract or, on the contrary, stimulate concentration? What types of music are most beneficial?
Many researchers agree that music improves productivity at work (Stanford, Sheffield, Sachs, Samson, Bigand, 2013).
According to Dr. Amit (Padnani, 2012), music would have a favorable impact in an environment considered too noisy or too quiet for employees. The same would be true when the tasks to be performed are repetitive or routine. Musical stimulation is comparable to eating a delicious dessert, as it produces dopamine in the brain.
Dr. Lesiuk (Padnani, 2012) adds that music reduces stress through the influence of a good mood, giving people a better opening 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 engagement, even in people who are not musicians in the first place. In a study he conducted with two control groups, one of which listened individually in stereo, he observed a 4.1% increase in productivity and a 31.2% increase in speed among factory workers.
In general, music has a positive effect on mood. When it's upbeat, it has a stimulating effect on the routine or repetitive tasks of daily life, making them more pleasant to perform. The present moment is more pleasant, and the mood-enhancing effect is activated.
This state of positive attitude begins on the way to work, when listening to music is particularly beneficial, preparing them to tackle a new day.This state of positive mindset begins on the way to work, when listening to music is particularly beneficial, preparing them to tackle a new day from an anti-stress and emotionally-healthy angle, especially if they're going through traffic congestion. Meditation is also recommended at the start of and during the day.
Listening to music can make last-minute, creative tasks much easier, such as painting, sculpting and writing, for which it is a source of inspiration.
According to other studies, the choice of music is a determining factor in productivity. Jazz; rock; popular; heavy-metal; hip hop and classical music would produce good results when listened to while working (Falqui, 2015).
Different workplaces allow workers to listen to their own favorite music, mostly with vocals, as it enhances their work environment. Another study establishes a counter-performance link with lyrical songs found in popular ambient music "playlists" (Barmes. 2014). These same "playlists" are made by employees or purchased from companies that produce them.
In this respect, staff would mistakenly believe that music would make them more productive, whereas the results only show an influence on positive attitude. According to Barnes, only slow instrumental music, around 60 bpms, would promote worker concentration and productivity. As little as fifteen minutes of listening would be enough to improve concentration for thirty minutes (Padnani, 2012).
In environments sensitized to distracting voices, instrumental background music is programmed to replay the same tunes at different intervals of the day, becoming boring as the weeks go by.
Listening to music at work is not unanimously accepted. Generations Y (born after 1980) and Z (millennials) are particularly adept at this practice, when their employer grants them the right to do so and when direct customers are not disturbed.
Particularly among Generation Z, enjoyment is an important part of their work, and music - especially the kind they advocate - is an amenity that contributes to their retention, at least for a season, especially as they occupy positions where there is a significant shortage in certain regions, such as catering, retail and tourist services.
The older people are, the less they appreciate listening to music at work (Padnani, 2012). It's more a question of work habits and generation.
Employees who prefer to use headphones say they find it more motivating to work. It seems that music would be an interesting solution to the stimulation needs of generations Y and Z, who insist on using their headphones, as their DBM (Digital Black Music), rap or techno music is of little interest to generation X (born between 1960 and 1980) and babyboomers (born before 1960).
Given inter-generational differences of opinion on the value of integrating music into a work environment, the use of headphones would be a solution to be favored. However, headphones inevitably result in a lack of social interaction, partnership and teamwork, unless there is an administrative policy to restrict their use to certain time slots.
Such a policy is important, as it avoids communication problems and judgments about people who may appear to prefer to isolate themselves from the group behind their headphones.
Listening to music is also a good way of drowning out surrounding noise and facilitating concentration. This is the case for Jean-François, a metalworker in a factory. His work is routine, but his attention must be constant because his safety and that of his team-mates depends on it.
When it comes to listening to music in the workplace, there are no legislative provisions, as long as it's safe for you and your colleagues, doesn't restrict anyone and is clearly regulated in accordance with the workplace.
There are many emotional benefits to listening to music at work. Even if musical preferences differ from person to person, work teams can agree on time slots and a variety of musical styles they can listen to, with or without headphones.
Music helps to create a pleasant atmosphere, and this well-being is important in everyday life.
References
Barnes, T. (2014). New study shows we're listening to exactly the wrong music at work.
https://mic.com/articles/87751/new-study-shows-we-re-listening-to-exactly-the-wrong-music-at-work
Bourel, F. (2018). How to make the most of your commuting time?
http://www.portailrh.org/_Externe.aspx?l=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journaldemontreal.com%2F2018%2F01%2F17%2Fcomment-tirer-profit-de-son-temps-de-navettage
Falqui, I. (2015). What music to listen to be more productive at work? http://www.cadremploi.fr/editorial/actualites/actu-emploi/detail/article/quelle-musique-ecouter-pour-etre-plus-productif-au-travail.html
Haake, A. B. (2010). Music listening in offices: Balancing internal needs and external considerations (Doctoral thesis, University of Sheffield, Sheffield
Padnani, A. (2012) The Power of Music,Tapped in a cubicle.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/jobs/how-music-can-improve-worker-productivity-workstation.html?_r=0
Stanford; Sheffield; Sachs; Samson; Bigand (2013). Music at work to develop well-being and cognition. http://fabriquespinoza.fr/notes-syntheses/musique-au-travail-developper-bien-etre-cognition/
(s.a), (2018). Is listening to music forbidden?
http://www.coindusalarie.fr/ecouter-musique-travail
(s.a), (s.d). Background music. http://www.novavision.ca/fr/musique-d-ambiance
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