Symphonies vs. Silence How Does Music Affect Work Performance?

Abstract

Imagine this: you’re slouching at your desk, staring at the mountain of tasks you have yet to complete, and your productivity is at a minimum. How do you combat this? Do you pull out your headphones and your favorite playlist, hoping they’ll get you in the groove to work? Or do you cut out the distractions and try to focus without any bothersome background noise? The debate on whether music enhances or hinders work performance is a long one running with many studies reporting mixed results. Some individuals say that listening to music uplifts their mood and boosts their productivity, while others insist that working in silence is the key to sustaining focus. While it is difficult to make a definite claim on how music affects work, one important consideration is that different ways of listening to music can lead to different outcomes. It is worth examining how emotional, cognitive, and background use of music impact job satisfaction and performance.