Dear Joan,

As I consider you to be the expert in all thing administrative, I thought you could answer a question for me. Is it appropriate to listen to music while at work? I have for many years but I want to project a more professional image.

Warmest regards,

Julie
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Hello Julie,

First, thank you for your compliment! This is an interesting question because for most of my career, I would have told you no music in the workplace… period.

Now, here is the answer as of June 26, 2009. If you work in an office where others work close to you, music could be bothersome. It would be polite to ask them how they feel about it. I remember during my admin career at Coppertone in Memphis, TN. We had 3 admins sitting in a row. We had cubicle-like stations but the panels only came up half-way thus we could see each other eye to eye and hear everything that was going on. The admin to the left of me drove me crazy with her music. I’m the type of person who is very focused at work and I don’t like that type of distraction, plus it was a very busy department with people buzzing around all the time.

You should also consider if you get many visitors. It could be distracting to them or they may think it in appropriate. What does your executive think? Do you sit right outside his or her office? If so, is the background music distracting?

The type of music you play makes a difference. Anything with lots of base or thumping would be bothersome. “Easy listening” music is fine. “Spa-like” music can be calming unless it’s waves constantly rushing one after the other.

All my admin career, I worked in places where most often, we did not have music at our desks. That was fine because there was so much commotion all the time. A few offices had music piped in for all employees.

At Office Dynamics, we are a small office with a small group on site. We are all pretty focused at work and don’t have a lot of distractions. We actually keep easy listening music on all day but it is set up in a central location, not at a person’s desk.
Hopefully based on the information I have provided, you will make the best decision for yourself and your work environment. For anything in your business life, I always say…. “If ever in doubt, don’t.”