[Note: This Q&A originally appeared in “Ask Rebecca,” a feature at the Accounting Tomorrow blog. See the original here. Submit your question about generational issues at work by emailing Rebecca: rr@nextgenerationconsulting.com.]
Question:
Dear Rebecca: My managing shareholder is concerned about the number of staff using iPods while they are working. ... I shared with him that most of the staff has been watching TV, listening to music, etc., while doing other things, for most of their life. If we’re having a performance issue, we can address that as a potential distraction, but for most, it shouldn’t be a problem. Do you have any other thoughts that might help? - Tricia
Rebecca responds:
Dear Tricia: Your feedback to your managing shareholder is spot on. Your managing shareholder has probably seen some of the research that shows that when people try to do multiple things at once - e.g., cook dinner and write a memo - they’re less effective at both. However, listening to music on an iPod is not multitasking; it’s background music.
Your firm could use this phenomenon to its advantage. What if different departments or generations created their own playlists, and distributed them? ... Bonus points if you can get the team to listen to Mozart or classical music; research shows it increases creativity and performance!
More:
- Liz Gold wrote a great article about this issue, “iPods are not the Enemy” and
- The amazing and talented Michelle Golden wrote a short post and a recap of a discussion she had with partners in this article in Practical Accountant.
Rock on. Really, I mean it. Put your earbuds in right now and rock on.
Comments
Seriously? We are having this conversation? Let ‘em use the ipods, text on their work-provided cell phones and check facebook throughout the day.
if we don’t, they’ll go somewhere that is more open and more flexible. Do I love seeing my employees on facebook. No, I think to myself, “why aren’t they working?” and then, I go check my own facebook account and think, “Oh, yeah, this is just part of the new normal routne.” and, then I read an indutsry blog or two, then check out a few online news sites…and then get back to my “real” work.
