Music, often considered the secret of our energy, has the power to uplift spirits, enhance productivity, and foster creativity.

During a Zoom meet with the ICFAI Online MBA students, a participant asked Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, former ISRO Chief, the secret of his remaining cool amid many pressures. He replied, “Listening to music when feel stressed” Like him there are many working professionals, executives, entrepreneurs and more who tune in to their favorite songs to chill at work.

Demanding Work Scenes

A demanding work environment heightens stress. Stress affects physical and mental health and impairs focus; efficiency and productivity suffer. Exercises and mindfulness practices do help. But the innovative minds wanted more, and they discovered music and dance.  

Music Acts.

So, the villain is stress. When stress strikes, our body’s first defence is cortisol, the ‘fire-fighting’ hormone, which gets released into the bloodstream. The more stress, the more cortisol.  Normally, cortisol helps the body to beat crises. But it turns bad if it exceeds the mark. These bad effects are manifested as health issues.  The remedy is music. Music activates endorphin, the feel-good hormone, which neutralizes excess cortisol, and we feel happy and energized. That is why, say, music is the real secret of our energy.

Benefits of Music

According to various studies and reports, music is an effective tool for workplace wellness. It relaxes the mind and reduces anxiety. Music also improves: 

• Focus: Anxiety disrupts focus. Music relieves anxiety and sharpens the focus.
• Memory: It stimulates the brain’s memory centers.
• Motivation: It induces happiness in the mind.
• Relationships: People for the same melodies flock together.
• Positive Emotions: Happiness creates positive emotions.
• Creativity: Music stimulates ideation and imagination.
• Concentration: Background music sinks other workplace interruptions.

What to Listen?

It is said that there are nearly 4,000 work-related Spotify playlists and over a million songs are accessed frequently at workplaces. So it is just impossible to set a standard on what music should be played at the workplace. Nevertheless, there are some clues, for instance, Carnatic Raga Bilahari scores over others if it is for relaxation.  Raga Bhairavi also works against anxiety.  Such Ragas are also used by psychologists in music therapies. When it comes to workplace music, here are some points to ponder: –

• Soft music is good to begin the day and helps concentration.
• Upbeat music dodges day-end fatigue.
• Tunes without vocals are good for deep work.
• Upset minds go with classical melodies rather than ballads. 
• Rhythmic drum beats go well with light routine tasks.
• If in a team, select the song/ tune that pleases all.
• Avoid sing-along if you are in open workstations (lest others may resent)

The Last word

Business music is synonymous with lounges or lobbies or lifts and usually have branding interludes. However workplace music is a different genre and is gaining acceptance as a workplace welfare measure. Tunes, tempo, lyrical content, rhythm, all go into the choosing of the right workplace music.

Learners’ Opportunity    

An Online MBA program can leverage this powerful tool by incorporating music into study routines and collaborative projects, thereby boosting motivation and engagement among students. The flexibility of an Online MBA allows learners to create personalized study environments where they can use music to maintain focus and reduce stress. This harmonious blend of education and music not only enhances learning experiences but also helps students maintain a positive and energized mindset, essential for achieving academic and professional success.

Discussion Question       

What is your take? Does music at the workplace make or break? Why?

Source Article

1. TOI-Music to beat executive job stress-TOI, Kolkata-Jan 23, 2024 (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/music-to-beat-executive-job-stress/articleshow/107066905.cms)

2. Neelanjana Mazumdar- The rhythm of wellbeing: Embracing……. –ETHRSEA-June 23, 2023

https://hrsea.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace/reinvention-becomes-the-new-way-forward-for-employees-pwcs-hopes-and-fears-survey-2023/101167909

3. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic-Can Music Make You More Productive?-Harvard Business Review (Ascend) September 13, 2022

 https://hbr.org/2022/09/can-music-make-you-more-productive

4. Cloudcovermusic.com Ways Music for the Office Can Undated 

https://cloudcovermusic.com/blog/music-makes-employees-healthier-more-productive

5. NLM-Effect of increase in cortisol ……-May 29, 2018

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6371989/

       

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