iPods and Work

We weren't surprised when last week's Newsletter caused some controversy. The vast majority of emails we got said (paraphrased) 'I agree in principle, but it's different for me'. Apparently there's a lot of very noisy conference calls going on in the vicinity of our listeners.

To clarify a few things: it doesn't matter if it's music, white noise or podcasts, we don't recommend earbuds in your ears when you're working. And, no, that doesn't mean we recommend music from your speakers if you share your office. In fact, even working from home alone, you need to consider your choice of music carefully and TURN IT OFF when you're on the phone.

The premise of our argument was that in wearing your earbuds, you're putting your preference above organizational effectiveness and that doesn't change even if your environment is noisy. Look, people have worked complex jobs for hundreds of years in much less comfortable conditions than you have and managed to be effective. Can you imagine sitting on a wooden bench, working with a quill pen, doing double entry accounts in pounds, shillings and pence when the people around you only bathe once a year and ALL communication is verbal? No? It's not any harder than concentrating on coding with a conference call going on around you. You're making excuses not to change, and we're going to respect you enough to call you on it.

And, a counter-point. If you're the one on a conference call, consider the people around you and keep it down, or take it somewhere else. If you know you have a loud voice, or tend to talk to yourself while working, or want to share every conversation with the people around you, make yourself a note. Put it somewhere your eye catches every few minutes and KEEP REMINDING yourself to change those behaviors. You can do that too.

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