Music can make the dullest of workspaces feel warmer and more welcoming, and it can prompt lively discussions! One co-worker might reminisce about the days of "proper songs," while another pokes fun at their old-fashioned taste.

But what happens when someone keeps putting on the same terrible tunes, or when people begin to avoid certain areas of the office because they find the noise too disruptive?

Is the answer to ban it completely? Perhaps, but no one wants to be known as the "music police." Maybe you just pipe in background songs that can help to lighten the mood without distracting anyone. Chances are, some people will still grumble, so is there an easier way?

Headphones at Work: Yes or No?

One option is to use headphones. No two people are the same, and that goes for their taste in music, too. By using headphones, you can keep yourself happy and motivated without subjecting your colleagues to unwanted noise.

But, if you were my manager, would you agree? More than a decade ago, Anne Kraemer wrote of her concerns that wearing headphones creates isolation within the workplace and minimizes career opportunities. And many workplace leaders feel the same way today.

I am guilty of increasing the volume on my computer to higher than is strictly necessary. As a result it can be hard for co-workers to get my attention, and even harder for me to recognize when there's an important conversation going on I should be part of.

However, solitude at work isn't always a bad thing. Consider the number of times you just needed a couple hours of deep work, only to be interrupted by colleagues or other distractions.

Headphones have become common code for "I'm busy." This simple signal is all your coworkers need to know that you shouldn't be disturbed, because you're "in flow."

Do Employees Work Better With Music?

People may claim that tunes help them to focus, but where's the proof? Thankfully for music advocates, the facts are in their favor. Studies show that music can improve performance for nine out of 10 workers.

Music has the ability to evoke strong emotions, which have been proven to stimulate and engage employees. This same research has also shown that certain songs can help to suppress feelings that damage productivity, such as anxiety and stress.

Some research has even suggested that we should be tailoring our song choices to the type of work we're doing. For example, classical music reportedly improves accuracy when working with numbers, while dance music can speed up proofreading by 20 percent.

Silence, Please!

The benefits of music on productivity and morale are, however, far from universal. When we asked Mind Tools followers to comment on this topic, most responses came from people longing for silence.

Elizabeth said: "Please spare a thought for workers whose concentration is destroyed by the distraction of background music. This is a common experience in the case of workers who are autistic.

“Although the problem is not exclusive to them, it’s worse for someone who cannot filter out and ignore irrelevant information, be it music (radio being the worst), television, or overly loud conversation.

“I know people who’ve had to leave jobs because their employer allowed their colleagues to dictate on these matters, rather than having a company policy. We should be working harder to make workplaces neutral spaces.”

And Jayne added: “I too prefer silence to work in. My own mind is more creative when left to its own devices rather than forced stimulation, which can prove distracting.

“I also like to think that those who are either hard of hearing or extra sensitive to noise are more likely to feel equal in a quiet environment and therefore calmer.”

As for me? Well, I believe that there is a place for music in the workspace, and I certainly don't intend to ditch my tunes altogether. But maybe I'll try to lower that volume!

What's Next?

It can be tricky to tread the line between boosting employee performance, and creating a room full of uncommunicative, detached individuals.

The key is to assess the needs of your team. Does there need to be a constant flow of ideas between colleagues? If so, perhaps headphones are a bad idea. Or do some people struggle with the hubbub of an open-plan office? Could you provide quieter break out areas?

If you’re considering a change to your team’s ways of working, take a look at these Mind Tools resources:

How to Minimize Distractions It takes an average of 23 minutes for a person to fully regain their focus after being distracted. Our top 10 tips are a game changer.

In Flow Time flies and things get done at a remarkable rate when you are fully focused. Our article explains how you can enable a “flow” state.

Open-Plan Offices While they can create a buzz, they can be difficult places to work. Discover the etiquette for focus, collaboration, productivity, and health in open-plan offices.

Tip of the Week

Try the Pomodoro Technique when procrastination strikes

By Kevin Dunne, Mind Tools Content Editor/Writer

“Hello procrastination, my old friend, you’ve come to talk with me again…” You know how it is – you’ve got a big job to do but somehow, it’s vital you tidy your desk first.

Procrastination is the self-defeating art of putting off something that needs to be done even when we’re aware it will create more pain by doing so.

And I know it’s not just me. Research suggests that 20 percent of adults procrastinate chronically, while between 80 and 95 percent of college students procrastinate to some extent.

Luckily, I’ve found something that really works when you absolutely must get something done – the Pomodoro Technique.

It’s a method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, based on the clockwork timer he used, shaped like a tomato (pomodoro in Italian).

All you do is set a timer for 20-25 minutes, refuse to be distracted and focus on the task in hand. When your timer goes off, give yourself a three-minute break. Repeat this three or four times, then give yourself a longer 15-20-minute break.

It really works. You only need to commit to short bursts of work, but you quickly see the results.

So, next time you’re thinking about taking the garbage out instead of finishing that important report, get your timer on and get things done. You’ll feel so much better after!

For more top tips, see our article, How to Stop Procrastinating.

Pain Points Podcast

Don't miss the latest episode of our “Pain Points” podcast! Hear stories, insights and tips from people who understand the challenges we all face at work – in “Pain Points,” the new podcast exclusive to Mind Tools members.

So, do you struggle to delegate work? If you’re a manager or leader, it can be hard to let go. But delegation is essential for a fully functioning team and the smooth running of projects.

This week’s Pain Points podcast is all about delegation – the challenges you face in doing it right and how to overcome them. Join Jonathan Hancock and the team as they chat about their own experiences of delegation.

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News Roundup

This Week's Global Workplace Insights

Huff, Puff and Blow the Burnout House Down

Arianna Huffington collapsed from exhaustion in 2007, hitting her head and breaking her cheekbone.

She is not alone. According to a survey released earlier this year, more than 40 percent of people with desk jobs felt burned out at work.

Speaking to Bloomberg.com, the co-founder of the Huffington Post said, there is “this collective delusion that in order to succeed we have to be always on. And the science makes it very clear that the human operating system is very different than machines.”

Huffington’s plan is to harness the power of those machines in the form of AI to turn the tide on burnout, via her new company Thrive Global.

She said, “Behavior change is notoriously hard. We’re much more successful when ‘micro steps’ can be really personalized. AI helps us personalize the micro steps. We link to whatever wearable [device] they're using and ask a lot of questions.”

New Moms Bear the Brunt of Cost-of-Living Crisis

A study in the U.K. has found that one in 10 new mothers go back to work within just four months because they can’t afford to stay away longer.

The non-profit “Pregnant Then Screwed” polled more than 5,000 people and found only a quarter of them were taking their full maternity leave period.

One respondent said there, “was no way on earth” she would have been able to survive on statutory maternity pay.

Another mother said: “I returned to work after just two weeks as maternity allowance for the self-employed is so poor.”

Find out more in this article from The Independent.

World and Workplace at War

Once upon a time... the rules of polite conversation governed the workplace. There was a well-accepted list of things you simply didn’t talk about: chiefly politics, religion and sex.

Today, thanks in large part to social media, people’s beliefs are no longer under wraps. And, reports Forbes.com, this is leading to conflict at work.

Polarization at work erodes trust, interpersonal relationships and performance.

One recent study found that 85 percent of workers engage in regular workplace conflict, wasting 2.8 hours a week and costing employers a staggering $359 billion a year. And 37 percent of workers have reported changing their view of a colleague based on their political beliefs.

Forbes suggests you choose your words with care, don't let false dichotomies cloud your thinking, and say less, listen more when it comes to keeping the peace at work.

For more in-depth guidance, see the Mind Tools collection around managing and resolving conflict at work, and the article How to Manage When Values Clash.

See you next week for more member-exclusive content and insight from the Mind Tools team!