Does listening to music at work improve productivity? |

Does listening to music at work improve productivity? Here’s 5 compelling reasons why it does.

Music improves productivity and attitude

Teresa Lesuik released this study from the University Of Windsor, Canada that examined 56 developers working at a Canadian software company. The findings showed that positive affect and quality of work were at their lowest when music wasn’t present in the working environment, and that tasks generally took longer. Overall, positive mood alteration and increased productivity were evident with music playing at work.

Music helps you regain concentration at work

There’s nothing worse than being enveloped by the sounds and distractions in the workplace around you. The copier is humming, phones are ringing, and five different conversations are happening in close proximity. Sometimes, drowning out that noise can help you get back in the zone. Dr. Sood, at the Mayo Clinic, said it takes just 15 minutes to a half-hour of listening time to regain concentration. Music without lyrics usually works best, he said.

Music improves morale and work environment

The music industry has new proof you should listen to music while you work. In a survey commissioned by U.K. licensing organizations PPL and PRS for Music, 77 percent of surveyed businesses say playing music in the workplace increases staff morale and improves the atmosphere.

Music helps you work faster and more efficiently

Fox and Embrey found from a study in 1972 that listening to background music helped improve the efficiency of performing a repetitive task—even when competing with machine noise. More specifically, this study found that productivity increased when workplace music was in a Major mode.

Music influences your behaviour (whether you realize it or not)

Have you ever noticed when you go into a fast food restaurant like McDonalds the music is much more upbeat? But if you go to the grocery store or a department store, the music is way more relaxed, Fast food restaurants have faster, upbeat songs to encourage turnaround. Department stores and grocery stores have slower, smoother, easy-on-the-ear soundtracks to slow you down — because research shows the longer you stay in the store, the more you’ll buy.

So, as you can see, music affects workflow on many different levels. Now that we’ve got some hard statistics, has your opinion changed on music’s place in the work environment?

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