Some workers say tuning out the office noise improves focus. Managers are often frustrated because workers who wear earbuds or headphones appear to be unprofessional and look distracted. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, research offers little support that listening to music improves our concentration. Individual differences are huge on wearing headphones at work. It has become a social trend to walk down the street, sit on a train or work on a project with headphones. It helps us tune out the world.
Recently, I was at a networking luncheon and a new manager was expressing her frustration over an employee wearing headphones. She felt it was disrespectful and found it difficult to communicate with him. She often communicated her frustration to him but he continued to use them as he felt he was still highly productive.
Many people are wearing headphones, either with music or noise canceling capabilties because of the wide open spaces in the office. An office with low partitions was designed to create more collaboration when actually it may be driving us further apart. Unit sales of headphones is projected to be up 41% in 2012. Most of the headphones sold, will be used in an office.
If you decide to wear headphones at the office, make sure you are not missing out. In today’s office environment, information exchange, creativity and idea generation is paramount. Keep in tune with what is going on in the way of new project launches, keep building and fostering relationships. Balance is key. Do not alienate yourself or your talent.
Readers, what do you think? Do you think someone working with headphones seems less professional? Do you feel like you can interrupt them if you need to? Are you more productive when you tune out the noise with headphones? Please comment below.
For more information about business etiquette training, click here.
To “like” us on Facebook, click here.
