Sound of success: embracing quieter work environments

In the world of hybrid workplaces, where we seamlessly transition between remote work and the physical office, a silent adversary awaits: noise. Picture this: you finally find your rhythm in the tranquillity of your home office, only to be lured back to the cacophony of the bustling office environment, with chatter, keyboards and equipment hums disrupting your concentration and derailing your focus.

Combined with the upsurge in meetings, hybrid working has proven that modern life poses an increasing subset of challenges in the environments in which we’re now taking calls and meetings outside of the office. From the background noise of road works, the buzz of a noisy cafe or interruptive housemates and family — working from home or on the go is not always as simple as it might seem.

And with research showing that 82% of Australian and US workers are operating under some form of return-to-work mandate, this issue is rife among the corporate working population.

Recognising the importance of an undisturbed mind, employers must take note of this discordant symphony and its impact on productivity. Reducing noise is not merely a whimsical pursuit, but a gateway to unlocking the full potential of their workforce.

The impact of noise on people

When we think about wellbeing, typically we think about emotional or mental wellbeing. We hardly ever consider the physiological wellbeing or the actual ‘what’s happening in our body’, which is also important to understand when we’re continuously exposed to environmental factors, a primary one being sound.

But the brain is constantly scanning its surroundings, orienting itself in its environment, distinguishing relevant sound from disturbing noises and choosing where to focus. This tendency to always listen means that our attention is divided in a noisy place — even when we try to focus — between the task at hand and the random sounds and conversations occurring.

In an open-plan office setting, this may mean employees experience negative effects of noise pollution and/or if they work with many people, ultimately impacting concentration and productivity.

For example, research shows that background noise affects how well people perceive speech. When we listen to someone speak, other conversations or background sounds increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). As the SNR increases, it becomes proportionally difficult to comprehend the words of the speaker we are trying to pay attention to. Put simply, sounds that cannot be recognised are perceived as noise and noise stresses your brain, causing it to become tired and unfocused.

Unlocking full potential of the workforce with the brain

The latest research from EPOS highlights the positive effects of noise reduction on cognitive performance, revealing that reducing background noise in audio devices improves multitasking abilities, specifically in understanding speech and reacting visually.

According to EPOS, participants in its study had faster reaction times, improved accuracy and better recognition of speech, with:

• 48% better recognition of speech-in-noise.
• 67% reduction of listening effort.
• 40% increase in efficiency.
• 23% improved reaction time.
   

The study used people’s ratings of how hard it was to listen and measured changes in their pupils to understand how the brain uses its resources. These measurements supported the conclusion that reducing noise decreases the mental effort required for tasks — these findings provide valuable insights for enhancing cognitive performance in the workplace, where multitasking is key, by optimising audio solutions.

Today, Australian organisations have a much clearer understanding of how technology can transform connections and supercharge productivity. But the question remains, how can we make hybrid work, actually work?

Enhancing productivity with technology

For today’s workforce, who spend hours in hybrid meetings where sound comes from both speakers and people, poor voice transmission increases listening effort and the mental load people experience during a workday. This unnecessary fatigue makes workers less productive and efficient, due to employees needing to invest greater cognitive effort just to recognise statements from colleagues, fill in the gaps of conversation and guess at the best outcome. At the end of a workday, this additional effort adds up, having a direct impact on a team member’s ability to perform their best long term.

Technology didn’t just help weather the pandemic storm; it reshaped how we work post-pandemic. This change in dynamic has led to the delivery of more innovative solutions, designed more specifically for business to improve efficiency, and ease the workload on employees. As our approach to work changes, Australian businesses must invest in these new technologies that are designed to ensure hybrid working is more efficient and effective across both physical and virtual environments.

The onus falls on business leaders to better equip their workforces with the right solutions to allow them to work effectively. Hybrid workers require versatile and dynamic collaboration solutions that can keep pace with these updated ways of working, and for business leaders, it means investing in solutions that can stand the test of time.

When hybrid meetings do happen, it’s critical that the right technology solutions play a central part in communication, to ensure all present voices, whether physical or virtual, feel heard and seen. This includes data, Wi-Fi, applications, team channels, collaboration equipment and those that will emerge in the future.

Businesses that don’t implement technology to create a more productive hybrid workplace will fail to harness the opportunity of a truly empowered workforce.

Image credit: iStock.com/golubovy