by Barb Hopkins

Created on: May 21, 2008   Last Updated: February 15, 2009

I have always listened to music when I was working. Sometimes the music was piped in through the office P.A. system and other times it was through my own radio or CD player. At home, I would listen to music as I cleaned or cooked. For years, it seemed as if there was always music in the background of my life. After having been away from the general workforce for several years, I returned a few months ago. My position as a secretary-telemarketer found me alone in a very quiet office on several occasions. I figured a little background music would make the hours go by faster and keep my mood upbeat as I made calls and completed various tasks. I was so very wrong.

I decided to stream my background music from favorite radio station via the internet. I logged on, tuned in, and prepared to enjoy the tunes and a very productive afternoon. No sooner had I turned the music on, did the phone ring. I answered but soon realized that the DJ's voice in the background, although soft and not audible to my caller, was a distraction for me. My caller's voice and the DJ's blended together and I had to completely lower the computer's volume. Maybe I was simply out of practice with shutting out distractions while taking phone calls. I did manage to handle my caller's questions and I decided that since the phone rang infrequently, I would leave my music on as I completed some data entry work. I really didn't want to go back to working in complete silence.

In addition to my data entry, I was required to make a certain number of telemarketing calls each day. I dutifully dialed the first number on my list and prepared to either leave a message or speak with a person. The first call went smoothly as the song playing in the background was soft and melodic. I made my way through about a dozen calls when I realized I was listening too closely to the commercials and news updates. I had lost my place in my list. I considered shutting down the radio station but now I was determined to be able to have the background noise and do my job well. I tried a couple of more calls and found that especially when a song I really like played, I was distracted and my vocal skills suffered. Admitting defeat, I disconnected my link to the radio station and finished my work in silence.

Not all jobs require background silence, and in all actuality, my job doesn't really require it. I am just incapable of concentrating on a telemarketing phone call when there is music in the background. Maybe if I was working forty

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