Why In-store music is good for employees too!
There are so many advantages to using in-store music in your business, but one that you may not have considered is the effect it has on your employees. In addition to providing a unique audio experience for your customer, background music can provide an elevated work atmosphere for your employees as well.
According to a survey by Spherion® Workplace Snapshot, 79% of workers enjoy listening to music while they work. This number is even higher among young adults, who feel increased job satisfaction when favorable music is played. According to the survey, the employees said the music improved their morale and kept them engaged and on track.
This might seem counter-intuitive, but further research supports it. Teresa Lesiuk of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, conducted a study of IT workers over a series of weeks, and found that employees who listened to music had several advantages over their colleagues who did not. According to Lusiuk, listening to music triggered a positive mental arousal state, that lead to better performance of tasks and more creative problem solving than the workers who didn’t.
“When you’re stressed, you might make a decision more hastily; you have a very narrow focus of attention,” she said. “When you’re in a positive mood, you’re able to take in more options.” Lesiuk said in an interview with the New York Times.
Playing good in-store music also boosted cooperation. According to a team of researchers from Cornell University, music increases cooperative behavior in employees, which can keep daily operations running smoothly.
“Music is a pervasive part of much of our daily lives, whether we consciously notice it or not,” said Kevin Kniffin, lead author of the study. Our results show that people seem more likely to get into sync with each other if they’re listening to music that has a steady beat to it,” he said.
So what is the best music to use in your store or business to energize, engage and motivate your employees?
- A good variety of music is key.
Your employees spend a minimum of eight hours a day at work and they don’t want to hear the same songs day in and day out.
- Regular updates are important.
Be sure that your playlist gets refreshed at least once a month. Surprisingly, adding just twenty songs and resting twenty others, can make a big difference in the overall sound of your music program.
- Explain to your employees that the music has been designed to appeal to your customers first and to enhance the store’s ambiance.
Your employees may want to hear the latest hit by the The Junkyard Dogs, but that could alienate your 50+ customer base. Tell your employees that the primary goal is to keep the customer in your place of business for the longest possible amount of time. Make them part of the process.
- Explain the music strategy to the staff.
If and when a customer comments about the music, it’s better if the staff understands what your music goals are. You may want to ask the staff for suggestions to reach your goals to make your business environment even more customer-friendly.
Great background music is a perfect way to engage customers and employees. Make sure to think of them both when you select background music for your company.
- 
