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White Noise Generators & Sound Masking

October 10, 2011 By

Frustrated by Distraction?

Getting distracted at work is a common problem.  Sadly, it’s usually when we’re under the most pressure to meet a deadline or finish a project.  In fact, most workers are distracted more than 2 hours every day, and that’s including high-pressure days.  There is little we wouldn’t do to rid ourselves of distractions, including our own propensity to get drawn in to interesting conversations or gossip.  The truth is that it’s quite challenging to get rid of all distractions, especially those seemingly out of our control.

That’s why it’s time to turn to sound masking and the innovative technology it offers.  Sound masking is usually based on the sound coverage provided by white noise and the alteration of the ambient sounds found in the typical noisy work place.  The addition of white noise, or sound from all points on the sound spectrum, literally renders your brain unable to focus in on one specific, unwanted, ie distracting, sound.  I did say “usually” because sound masking can introduce any sound to tune out unwanted sounds- it might be music or some other sound.  In contrast, white noise generators, aka sound machines, rely on white noise as the name implies.  This white noise can be like the gentle sound of an air conditioner, or as exotic as a waterfall or ocean scene.

The Difference Between a White Noise Generator & Sound Masking

Thus, the difference between sound masking in general and a white noise generator/sound machine at work is usually in its application, but not its purpose.  The purpose for both is to raise speech privacy and tune out distraction to boost productivity.  However, while a generator or machine is typically used for one or two workers, sound masking is more broadly applied to an entire zone of workers.

White noise generators and sound masking office-wide are an office employee’s best friend especially when an ambient sound in the workplace distracts workers from getting the job done.

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Why Sound Masking Works

October 3, 2011 By

Distractions are everywhere- just google it and see how many thousands of results you get.  Even if you don’t want to be distracted, there is usually some office shenanigan that pulls your attention away from work, despite your best efforts to stay focused.  across the board, the average worker loses two hours of productive work each day due to distraction.   And these distractions cost companies around $600 billion annually.  As a result, businesses and managers nation wide are doing their best to counteract these incredibly costly distractions.  A common theme has been office-wide sound masking systems.

What is sound masking?

Simply put, sound masking is the use of white noise to increase speech privacy. It sounds like an air conditioner running, only it doesn’t start and stop a million times a day.  Rather, it’s consistent, steady, uniformly distributed hum acts as a barrier to other sounds, those that are much more distracting and troublesome.  This raises the question why white noise is better than typical office noise?  An easy way to explain that is to imagine how irritating an oncoming car’s bright lights are when not turned off at night.  However, imagine those same lights on during the day- you may still notice them, but they certainly aren’t dazzling or blinding.  The same thing is true in the office.  Loud noises can be almost muted with the use of consistent sound (like bright lights losing their luster during the day).

Why use sound masking?

This technology is used all over the U.S. to improve privacy and productivity – at government agencies, medical facilities and standard office buildings. Sound masking has incredible advantages for any office setting, and especially in open floor plans with cubicles. Here are some of the top benefits:

  • Less distraction at work: By masking conversations and excess noise, the average worker can be up to 25% more productive with their work hours. Sound masking installed in the entire office space will benefit the entire office.
  • Improved privacy and confidentiality: Many office situations need confidentiality – human resources, government services, medical facilities, counseling, and many more. Sound masking significantly improves privacy and confidentiality throughout an entire office. It uses white noise to make human speech unintelligible to those beyond the immediate conversation.
  • Decreased stress for workers: Most of us are not aware of the stress we experience from trying to block excess noise around us. Think about trying to write an important email, or work through a complicated problem, all the while there is a noise, maybe a conversation or a horn honking, that is trying to gain your attention.  According to a study by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), even a small acoustic treatment can reduce worker stress by more than 25%.

The appropriate use of white noise in a work place, even on an individual scale, can lower stress and increase concentration by masking background conversations and noise. Quality office-wide, sound masking provides effective privacy and confidentiality, while decreasing office distractions.

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Distance from Distraction, Not Staff

September 24, 2010 By

Managing Your Own Distraction

So often managers focus on their employees’ (seeming lack of) attention span so much that they neglect their own levels of distraction.  For just a moment, set aside your concerns about your workers and think about your own office set-up.  What distracts you?  Whether it’s meetings or constant interruptions, most managers find getting their own work done virtually impossible because they feel it’s important to be available.  So, how do you balance being available with your own need to work?

Distance from Distraction, Not Staff

being available is not synonymous with being distracted...at last it shouldn't be.

One possible solution is to use a sound machine.  That way, you can keep an open-door policy, but you are not held captive by every noise that runs your way.  Think of all the machinery and cell phones and sales calls and gossip that course through the office every day.  You can’t turn them off, but you can distance yourself from their impact by using a sound machine.   For instance, instead of buzzes and high-pitched voices, your brain can focus on a waterfall in the background, thus releasing it from distraction.  With just a little background sound of your choice, you can keep your mind on the work you need to do.

Plus, a sound machine should only distance you from noisy distractions, not from your employees.  The actual sound of the machine shouldn’t disturb anyone and certainly doesn’t keep anyone from knocking on your door.  There’s no reason you can’t be available, but still be productive.

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Distracted & Disgruntled at Work

September 21, 2010 By

Distracted & Disgruntled at Work

Too often, people come home from work having accomplished very little.  It’s no wonder- they feel that they clock in just in time for the phone to ring, a co-worker to sidle over for a “quick” chat, or a manager to call what feels like a waste of time meeting.  Here are a few tips for handling the necessary distractions at work.  From never-ending meetings to constant interruptions, workers are distracted and disgruntled at work.

  • Meetings are not only largely boring, they are also a huge time-suck.

    Minimize meetings. Lots of meetings are held to convey information that quite simply could be sent in an email or dealt with in some other less time-consuming way.  Keep whatever meetings are absolutely essential short and simple.  It may be necessary to give speakers time limits and to hold them accountable for honoring everyone’s time.

  • Institute a “quiet time.”  Many businesses such as IBM and Intel  have a set time that all electronic devices are at least silenced so that workers can use the quiet time to get organized, plan, think, or do a variety of tasks that are difficult to do with tons of buzzes and rings.  It’s up to you how often “quiet time” takes place and certainly how long it lasts.
  • Try sound machines or sound masking systems. Sound machines are great for individual offices and cubicles, while sound masking systems are better for entire offices or larger areas.  Either way, the idea is the same- soft white noise masks, or covers, intrusive noises so that the brain can focus more fully on a task.  Rather than get distracted by an errant sound, the brain simply tunes it out and continues to be productive.

It’s important to realize that everyone gets distracted.  Whatever your methods, minimize unnecessary distractions, and you’ll find that everyone (including you!)  can be more productive.

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You Don’t Know if You Don’t Ask

August 16, 2010 By

Any boss that is even halfway decent wants their workers to be able to work to their full potential and desires to help them reach that potential through any available means. Not only is that good for the people in the company, its also good for the company’s bottom line. People working to their full potential are not only more productive, but also happier and less likely to look elsewhere for work. Have you ever wondered how to help your employees in this area? What is keeping your workers from being more productive? Have you ever asked them? You won’t know if you don’t ask.

Instead of hiring a company masseuse, a few effective ergonomic adjustments could be made. (Although a masseuse would be nice....)

Some common reasons for lack of productivity are  distractions. In fact, studies have shown that distractions cause up to 2 hours a day of lost productivity which costs  companies $759 billion a year. So, one of the ways that would (hopefully) make a noticeable difference is to cut down on those distractions.

Ask your workers what is distracting them and then think of ways to help them overcome those. Is office noise and conversations constantly breaking their train of thought? Installing sound masking could help with that. Are constant emails and new email notifications a problem? Some software that minimizes that would help. Perhaps by the end of the day your employees shoulders and wrists are aching from sitting in front of the computer all day. A few ergonomic adjustments could go a long way in solving that and allowing them to focus on their working instead of tight muscles.

You won’t know how to implement effective solutions unless you know what the problem is. So, go ahead, ask your employees how you can help them work better and with less stress.

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Lord of the Loud Mouths: Office Noise

August 3, 2010 By

I found the following excerpt from The Sunday Times and was fairly amused.

What lengths would you go to to deal with office noise?

I work in an open-plan office which is shared by several disparate teams. What the team on the other side of my partition actually do[es] I know not, other than that it appears to be something hilarious as their conversations are frequently punctuated by loud laughter that reverberates around the entire floorplace. I’ve tried looking daggers at them whenever a particularly noisy guffaw interrupts my train of concentration, but I am tempted to ask of them: “If there’s a joke, let’s all share it!” Can you suggest an alternative approach?
Louisa Radice, Exeter

Stunning Stentor! Lord of the loud-mouths. Red ear-plugs, as worn by tractor drivers? Wax from the chemist? To work in open-plan one has to cultivate an invisible carapace that cuts out extraneous noise. It is the job of the manager to cut out stentorian uproar that distracts others from their work. For Puck’s sake do not look daggers. You will make your neighbours laugh louder, and get yourself a reputation as a spoilsport and a prude.

I have to agree.  While the complaint is noteworthy, the response is dead-on: It is the job of the manager to cut out stentorian uproar that distracts others from their work.

Attention, all managers!

Did you know that your employees look to you to solve office noise issues?  The average employee loses more than 2 hours every day because of distractions like the one described above.  Interestingly, most employees do not appreciate this loss.  Your job is to keep your workers focused- not by micro-managing, but through reasonable means, such as sound masking.  Sound masking is the use of white noise to help your employees tune out irritating distracting noises so they can focus on their work.  Many sound masking systems can be installed directly in the ceiling tiles themselves, so while highly effective, they are practically invisible.

Distractions cost businesses over $500 billion every year, possibly as much as $700 billion.  What do you want to bet your company has a piece of that?


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How to cover office noise

July 27, 2010 By

Is office noise a problem in your building?

If you answered no, then you are in a small minority indeed.  The fact of the matter is that national averages show that between $500 and $700 billion are lost each year as a result of office distractions, such as a noisy environment.  Office noise may be as simple as whirring machines or as complicated as intermittent conversations and sales calls.  And while much office noise can be contributed to the employees themselves, most employees do complain about it because it keeps them from completing their tasks quickly or effectively.  In fact, many employees lose their evenings and weekends due to unfinished work.

What can you do about office noise?  You can’t exactly ban sales calls or unplug crucial machinery to provide a silent office.  Actually, most workers find that silence is even deadlier than too much noise.  (Can you imagine what the loss to productivity would be if it’s even worse than the $500-$700 billion problem of distraction??)  It may seem as if it’s a catch 22 and nothing will work.  That’s where you are (happily) wrong!

White Noise and Sound Masking

Rather than silence noisy distractions, why not cover them?  That way workers are focused on their tasks without feeling nervous about a sterile environment.  I offer you 2 simple solutions.

  1. Sound Masking.  Sound masking is the emission of white noise through speakers mounted within the ceiling tiles.  This white noise (like all white noise) is loud enough to cover distractions and even provide greater privacy levels.  You could treat as many areas as you like with no aesthetic change since the speakers are practically invisible.
  2. However, if office-wide coverage is not in your budget (though with billions of dollars of loss, it may need to be), it might be time to consider individual white noise systems, such as the Sonet.  The Sonet System is also highly effective, but on an individualized basis.

To determine what you need, you might want to take a day to spend in the common office area(s).  Check out how much noise there really is, where’s it’s coming from, and how distracting it is.  As you survey your noise problem, you’ll know whether you need a larger or smaller system.

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The Keys to a Successful Office: Rewarded and Protected Time

June 15, 2010 By

Top 10 Office Distractions

According to this article, the Top 10 Office Distractions are:

  1. Email
  2. Telephone
  3. Paper
  4. Visitors
  5. Environment
  6. Noise
  7. Meetings
  8. Lists
  9. Expectations
  10. You

Whether you manage 1 or 100 employees, they each struggle with those internal and external distractions (and so do you!).  They might rank them differently, but each distraction costs them a valuable chunk of time.  In fact, many studies suggest that the average worker is distracted more than 2 hours every day!  Two hours times every employee is a staggering loss of productivity.

Rewarding and Protecting Their Time

Just to be clear: you're shooting for happy workers, not ecstatic.

You can’t control for everything, but as a manager, it’s your job to step in and help relieve your employees from the stress of not getting their work done.  It’s easy to assume that the average worker doesn’t mind being distracted at work.   On the contrary, most employees report that they are irritated by distractions and just want a place to do distraction-free solo work.  Sure, there are probably a handful of office slackers who are just fine with less work, but most of your employees are frustrated with  the loss of productivity- for many, it means nights and weekends, and for others, it’s lower commission levels.  According to Frank C. Barnett, a marketing expert, “ownership of the job is huge“, which is why he is trying to reward mastery of a task/job not just with money, but also with something more internal- the feel of success and the knowledge of a job well-done, even the controversial ability to build their own brand on the company’s dime and with their reputation.

In addition to building a great incentive plan, you still need to provide a great work environment.  The biggest time suck at work is conversational distraction.  Whether 2 employees are chatting it up themselves or several are unwitting recipients of sales calls, there is no reason with today’s technology, such as sound masking,  that any office worker should fall prey to noisy distractions.  By covering unwanted noise with low-level white noise, you keep everyone focused on their own work.

By protecting and rewarding your worker’s time, you increase productivity and decrease stress levels- everybody’s happy.

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What Sound Masking Can’t Do

April 16, 2010 By

Obviously we here at Office Sound Masking are all about office sound masking. However, when considering whether sound masking is right for your space and situation, you do need to know that it has some limitations. Its not magic.

Here are some of the things sound masking can’t do.

  • Sound masking  does not mean sound cancellation.You will still be able to hear noises, especially loud noises. You will still be able to hear that a nearby conversation is going on, but you probably won’t be able to distinguish what is actually being said.
  • Sound masking does not absorb noise. For that you would need special ceiling tiles or acoustic wall panels.
  • Sound masking does not block noise. That is done by physical structures, i.e. walls, partitions, windows, etc.
  • Sound masking will not make all your employees get along. They may however, get along better, since they (hopefully) will not be interacting as much due to not being so distracted by each other.
  • Sound masking will not stop ALL distractions. The internet and cell phones will still exist after your sound masking system has been installed.
  • Sound masking will not do your paperwork for you. However, it will make it easier for you to do it, as you will not have as many conversational distractions to keep you from focusing.
  • Sound masking will not make your coffee for you. You’re on your own for that one.

What sound masking will do for you

Sound masking is used to cover noise. It “fills in” the sound spectrum around you with barely noticeable “unstructured” noise (“structured” noise would be noiese such as someone speaking or music that have patterns and convey information). Your brain will tune out unstructured noise as it searches for the structured variety. Studies have shown that offices with even small acoustical treatments (i.e. sound masking)

  • Were 48% more focused on their work
  • 51% less distracted, resulting in
  • 10% fewer errors and a
  • 27% decrease in worker stress

So while there are some things that sound masking can’t do (like make your coffee) that is a LOT that it can do. What could sound masking do for your company and its employees?

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Interrupted at Work

March 25, 2010 By

I recently found an interesting study on office interruptions.  Usually called distractions, these interruptions were researched from various angles, including but not limited to: What caused them (external or internal?), How many were there, and How long it took to get back on task.

What caused them?

The study found that most people suffered from both internal and external interruptions.  While most managers are primarily victims of external interruptions, the average worker distracts him/herself almost as much as others do!

How many were there?

The average worker had an interruptions/distraction every 3 minutes. Yikes.

How long did it take to get back on task?

When you’re interrupted, you don’t immediately go back to the task you were doing before you were interrupted. There are about two intervening tasks before you go back to your original task, so it takes more effort to reorient back to the original task. Also, interruptions change the physical environment. For example, someone has asked you for information and you have opened new windows on your desktop, or people have given you papers that are now arranged on your desk. So often the physical layout of your environment has changed, and it’s harder to reconstruct where you were. So there’s a cognitive cost to an interruption.

Interruptions are sometimes necessary, but they always derail productivity for the interrupted party.

As a manager, that may not be the best of news on any front. The bottom line is that Average Worker is surrounded by interruptions caused by others and by self.  It’s difficult to control for internal interruptions, such as email checking, but you can control for external interruptions.  It’s not inevitable that your employees have to be held captive by others and their noise.  A more recent development has been the use of office sound masking, the use of low-level white noise to cover office noise (i.e. unnecessary interruptions and distractions).  The result is less distraction, more focus, fewer errors, and lower stress levels.

An effective manager doesn’t micromanage every detail.  On the other hand, (s)he does provide a productivity-friendly environment.  You don’t need to worry about every moment lost to interruptions- in fact, some of them are quite necessary to every day productivity (such as an employee seeking advice/help from his/her manager).  But you can guard against unnecessary distraction.

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