Our office is an open area, similar to a cubicle arrangement, but we don’t even have the partial walls. Just a desk. This can lead to distractions coming from others workstations… like phone calls, video conferences, or music. Nothing kills productivity like Green Day or Radiohead coming from someones speakers, or even worse, spilling out of their headphones. If I can hear your music coming out of your headphones that you are wearing, you’re doing it wrong.
One of my coworkers is a musician, and plays french horn in the local symphony. He has been one of the Green Day offenders at times in the past, but today he has classical music playing. Now I like classical music, but I am very much a layman. I couldn’t listen to a piece and tell you who the composer was. I can’t expound on the moods and emotions certain musical keys and tempos can produce. I find classical music to be a good backdrop for work. It’s entertaining but not distracting. Very conducive to a work environment.
I have no idea what exactly is coming from his office at the moment, but I like it.
