As I got off the phone after a conversation with the CEO of a Fortune 100 company I was both surprised and pleased. Surprised that this busy executive would spend thirty minutes talking to me about songwriting, and pleased that he understood the importance of music in corporate life. Music is such an integral part of all of our lives. Most of us have favorite playlists or songs we turn to when we want to re-connect with something, when we’re happy or when we’re sad. Music can put us in the mood to create. It can make repetitive tasks more fun and make time pass quickly. So it really makes sense to acknowledge the importance of music in the work place and to invite music into your company. Music can re-energize, it can improve training and be used to create a stronger identity.
Two Ways To Utilize Music
For Mood, Focus and Energy – I’m listening to a playlist right now, as I write this blog article. It’s full of songs I’m familiar with; songs that have energy without being frenetic. When I play songs I know really well, the music can recede into the background since I’ve heard it before. But as part of the background, it sets a mood and energy that keeps me focused and blocks out needless distraction.
Whether you have people on a factory floor doing repetitive tasks or people researching new ideas, encouraging them to listen to their own music can keep them focused and happier.
Using Music Actively For Teamwork & Culture – If you buy into the value of music as outlined above, then imagine how powerful a song could be if it specifically reflected your company’s story. The reason I was on the phone with the CEO of that Fortune 100 company was because this organization brought me in to write a song for them. A song that would commemorate the company’s past, while singing the praises of their current services and products. The finished work is a feel good, sincere reflection of this organization at it’s best. And the song has become a source of inspiration for their workforce.
You can also take a hands on approach to music and create your own. Whether it’s through a team building program or an interactive keynote session, I’ve found a way of enabling organizations to harness the importance of music by writing their own songs. This is fun, it improves communication and it allows you to use the power of music to boost morale and inspire your workforce on a broad scale.
Remember; we all appreciate the importance of music in our personal lives. We use music to improve our quality of life. So don’t forget this translates to your work life too. There’s real value in bringing music to your company.