Facilitating an environment in which you feel comfortable and can perform at your best is an achievement that no professional would turn down, and we often brainstorm ways to make this ideal more of a reality for our professional lives.
Many professionals find that music is beneficial when creating a productive work environment, and Professional Engineers are no exception! We have asked several accomplished Professional Engineers their thoughts on the benefits of music in the workplace, and its effect on productivity. We have also asked them to include some of their favorite songs to play during the workday.
Feel free to share your thoughts on whether or not music is beneficial to you when at work, and what kind of music you enjoy for this purpose. Feel free to name songs specifically, as well!
Does music help you focus? Or, do you find it distracting? Are you able to listen to some music and be productive, but not others? Feel free to share your thoughts with us!
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I listen to rainstorms and smooth jazz when I am working. It is more for creating a feeling of calm as well as providing some white noise to help eliminate distractions. I listen to music with words when doing non-critical tasks such as sorting emails or cleaning my office.
I know that sometimes I use music on my headphones to drown out the other noises and conversations in cubicles near me. I also like to have music when I need to focus on a problem. However other times it can be too distracting like when I need to write a report or series of e-mails.
As for my tastes, I like a lot of different music. EDM is often great to focus too, but other rock, metal, and pop music is good just as background noise. Sometimes you can even find music to fit the mood you need to be in for a specific task.
Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty
I disagree, as a former professional musician, I find music in the work place to be very distracting.
I use music most of the time. Classics-especially violins and piano, C&W from New Zealand, 50’s-70’s R&R and US C&W.
I myself am a New Age fan. Songs with no lyrics are what I find best to allow me to think and find new ways to improve the ideas I am working on.
I have mostly listened to the local NPR Classical Music station. No loud commercials, long segments of music between anyone talking. It has always helped me to block out random noise and concentrate better. Some ‘New Age’ would be similar, but other is distracting.
Now, i have tinnitus in one ear, and when it is too quiet, the constant high pitched tone is very distracting. Having music in the background helps to blanked the tinnitus and makes it easier to work
I agree – quite distracting.
When writing a report or other document, I work better to music.. I write best to David Bowie music, especially his earlier work. The rhythm of Golden Years, for example, helps the words flow. The Logical Song by Supertramp sometimes helps when I’m stuck.
No music. Any noise is distracting.
I work alone and SiriusXM Escape is my favourite background music.
I find music distracting when I am working and trying to concentrate. I prefer peace and quiet when I am working.
Classical music or 50s and 69s era jazz are my favorites, with a little Steely Dan thrown in for good measure
If you want music, use headphones. Everyone has their own tastes, so I think there should be no general “elevator music” played by the office. For some things I do, such as writing that requires thought, silence is much better, and if there is background noise, I generally tune it out. But then that was a necessity when I first started working, as I am old enough that when I first started there were plenty of mechanical calculators used, so at times the office could sound like a machine shop. Music can also interfere with needed or wanted conversations and can lead to the need to be loud enough to disturb others. Also, if you spend part of your time in a construction project site office, you had better learn to tune out background noise. If that requires headphones, so be it. In short, if you want office music, bring your own.
I work best when my environment is silent.
I personally don’t but I think anyone who does like music when working should be able to do so. But with headphones. What one person enjoys and finds relaxing, the next person may absolutely hate and be bothered. So listen, if you like, on headphones, but keep the volume low enough that you can still hear someone else in the office ask you a question, or need your attention.
I agree that long playing songs are good while working. My personal favorite is the Benny Goodman 11 minute arrangement of “Sing Sing Sing”. I’m also a little surprised that no one has mentioned any of the works of George F. Handel. The horse-gallop rhythm of many works keeps your senses moving. If you’ve ever sung the “Messiah” the words going through your head my help align your thinking on ethical issues. Tom S.
Classical music on a public radio station ( no loud, extended commercial breaks ) always wins out for my work music . Except during the fundraiser times of course
Before I went into business for myself I felt like the soundtrack while I was at work should be “Working in a Coal Mine” by Lee Dorsey. After going into business the soundtrack changed to “Happy” by Pharrell Williams.
I also find music distracting when I am trying to work. I need peace and quiet to concentrate.