When was the last time you felt genuinely energised at the start of a work week? For many employees, Monday mornings are synonymous with groggy commutes and/ or endless to-do lists. But one organisation managed to flip this narrative entirely by introducing a simple yet powerful initiative: Music Mondays.
The Birth of Music Mondays
The idea started in a small marketing agency with a diverse, creative workforce. During an all-hands meeting, an employee casually mentioned how their personal Monday ritual of listening to upbeat music helped them ease into the week. This sparked an idea among the HR team: why not bring that same energy to the workplace?
Within a week, “Music Mondays” was born. The concept was simple: each Monday morning, employees would contribute to a shared playlist, and the songs would play in the office’s common area for the first hour of the day. Remote employees could tune in via a live-streamed session on the company’s internal communication platform.
How Music Mondays’ Strategy Worked?
Team Contributions: Every Friday, employees submitted their favorite songs based on a theme (e.g., “Feel-Good Hits,” “Throwback Jams,” or “Motivation Mix“).
Live Kick-Off
At 9 AM sharp, the playlist would go live, accompanied by a brief introduction from the week’s “DJ” — an employee chosen to curate and explain the theme.
Engagement Opportunities
Employees could share stories about why they picked certain songs in a dedicated chat channel, sparking conversations and connections.
Celebrating Diversity
Special weeks featured music from different cultures, aligning with global celebrations like Diwali, Lunar New Year, or Pride Month.
Impact of Music Mondays
What started as a light-hearted initiative soon became a cornerstone of the company’s culture. Here’s how Music Mondays boosted this organisation’s employee engagement:
Fostering Connections
Employees discovered shared interests and learned about each other’s backgrounds. One employee even formed a friendship with a colleague from another department after realising they both loved the same obscure indie band.
Setting a Positive Tone
The upbeat atmosphere on Monday mornings created a ripple effect, with employees reporting feeling more energised and optimistic throughout the day. According to a survey by LinkedIn, 60% of employees say having enjoyable workplace traditions boosts their overall job satisfaction.
Inclusivity in Action
Music Mondays gave everyone a voice. Whether it was sharing a favourite song or leading as the weekly DJ, employees felt valued and heard. A 2023 report from Gallup revealed that inclusive workplaces experience 27% higher profitability and 50% lower turnover rates.
Source: Gallup
Stress Relief
Research shows that music can reduce stress and improve mood. A study published in the Journal of Music Therapy found that listening to music reduces workplace stress by up to 25%. Employees noted that starting the week with music made deadlines and meetings feel less daunting.
Lessons Learned
While the initiative was a resounding success, there were a few key takeaways:
Balance Volume and Preferences
Not everyone works well with background music. The company adjusted by keeping the volume low in shared spaces and offering noise-cancelling headphones for those who preferred silence.
Be Mindful of Lyrics
To ensure inclusivity, the HR team established guidelines around song selection, avoiding explicit or potentially offensive content.
Celebrate Participation
The company regularly highlighted standout contributions during team meetings and offered small rewards, like gift cards, for creative playlist themes.
How You Can Start Music Mondays
Starting your own Music Mondays at work can be a fun and easy way to engage employees. Here are some expanded tips on how to get started:
Start Small
Begin with a shared playlist where employees can contribute songs. Initially, you could limit the playlist to a manageable number of participants or songs, such as 10-15 tracks. As the initiative gains popularity, you can expand it by involving more employees or adding extra features.
Use Technology
Take advantage of streaming platforms like Spotify or YouTube. These tools can make sharing and listening to music easy, especially for remote teams. If your organisation has an internal communication channel, use it to live-stream the playlist or share a link where everyone can listen in simultaneously.
Encourage Participation
Make the submission process simple and clear. Create a recurring reminder every Friday for employees to submit songs based on a designated theme. You could even introduce a fun and easy-to-use form for them to add their selections. Engaging employees by allowing them to curate the playlist helps create a sense of ownership and excitement.
Tie It to Culture
Align the themes of the playlists with company values, celebrations, or ongoing initiatives. For example, you could feature songs that celebrate diversity during cultural observances like Black History Month or Pride Month, or center around team-building during company milestones or product launches. This will help tie the music experience to the company’s culture and make it more meaningful.
Offer Flexibility
Remember that not everyone might appreciate music in the same way. Allow employees to opt-out of the communal listening experience by offering headphones or creating designated quiet areas. Also, remember to keep the volume low in shared spaces to accommodate those who prefer a quieter environment.
Celebrate Participation
Recognise and reward employees for their creativity and participation. This could be as simple as acknowledging the trendy songs or playlist theme in a team meeting or offering small rewards, such as gift cards, for the most popular song choices. Celebrating participation will encourage ongoing engagement and motivate employees to take part.
Gather Feedback and Iterate
Ask employees for feedback after a few weeks to understand what they like and how to improve the initiative. Whether it’s tweaking the song selection process or trying different themes, listening to feedback will help refine the programme and ensure that it continues to resonate with the team.
Conclusion
Music Mondays proved that even small initiatives can create a big impact. By fostering connection, inclusivity, and positivity, this simple concept brought employees closer together and turned dreaded Mondays into something to look forward to. After all, when the power of music meets the energy of a team, magic happens.
Author: Dilshad Durani – Technology Strategist and Content Creator, Alphanso Technology
Photo credit: StockCake
