10 Songs That Fuel Productivity at Work

Do you need to listen to music in order to function at work? At Mojo Helpdesk, we’re huge fans of  “plugging in” while diving into a big project or finishing a task.

Here’s ten songs and artists that keep us energized and efficient all day long:

For the jukebox hero:

Don’t Stop Me Now - Queen

Queen is an obvious favorite on several work playlists. Their hit Don’t Stop Me Now is the perfect jam to quell even the biggest pre-meeting jitters.

Rock You Like a Hurricane -  The Scorpions

Need some post-lunch motivation? Blare some Scorpions for an energetic jolt of inspiration. (No headbanging required.)

For the wannabe rap star:

Not Afraid - Eminem

Popular for his angst-filled hip hop hits, Eminem’s Not Afraid will make you want to get up and dance (focus on dancing your hands across the computer keyboard instead.)

Huslin’ - Rick Ross

The title says it all. Get some hustle in your step and blare this song before a big meeting (be sure to wear your headphones - this hit is NSFW.)

For the mellow-minded:

You Make My Dreams  - Hall & Oates

For a more peppy jam, consider this classic Hall & Oates hit to get through an early morning at the office.

September - Earth, Wind and Fire

For those needing a giant burst positivity burst, Earth, Wind and Fire’s 1978 hit is just the right amount of pep to fuel a coding binge or ticket-destroying mission.

For the easily distracted:

Mozart

Research from Stanford University shows that listening to Mozart can improve creativity and clarity, as well as reduce errors. We recommend starting with Mozart’s symphonies and then working towards his infamous, Requiem.

Vitamin String Quartet

Crave a classical edge, but need more of a familiar melody? Check out the Vitamin String Quartet for popular hits played on string instruments. Our song of choice is VSQ’s version of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky.

For the hipsters:

As a company based in Austin, Texas, we just couldn’t complete this list without including some local favorites:

Give Me the Beat - Ghostland Observatory

This Austin-based band combines electro, rock and funk beats that are perfect to dance or work to. Feel free to start a group dance-off in your office (camaraderie fuels great work, remember?)

Bastille - Pompeii

Austin is no stranger to some homegrown indie rock, which Pompeii provides in spades. We dare you not to type extra-fast to this song.

Now we want to hear from you. What songs would you add to our productivity list? Tweet us @mojohelpdesk or comment below.

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Emphasize Internal Support to Improve Efficiency

An internal argument amongst co-workers or departments may not lead to a lost sale or bad review, but it will eventually lead to a negative work environment, compromising the quality of work and productivity of the employees. Unfortunately, unhappy employees cause lost sales and even bad reviews, so how can an organization deliver spectacular internal support and keep the workflow, well, flowing? 

The same features that make Mojo Helpdesk an invaluable customer service tool are also useful in enabling employees to effectively communicate internally. Employees can raise tickets for work items or future tasks and assign them to the appropriate staff member or department to resolve.  Correspondence between employees or departments is tracked in a discussion-like thread on the ticket and email notifications update staff in real-time. With Mojo, it’s easy for any employee to view the progress of tickets and take over if necessary. When internal support requests follow the same guidelines as delivering excellent customer support, internal requests are given the extra effort and priority they deserve.

Businesses that use an open-communications/tracking tool will see improvements at every level. When employees communicate efficiently, they will make sure no task falls through the cracks, and work ethics are likely to improve. Your business will be more successful with a little extra effort towards the improvement of internal operations, leading to improved customer relationships as well as employee relationships. 

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5 Ways to Keep Customer Service Representatives Motivated

Employee motivation and loyalty is important in any position, but for those tasked with representing a company to its customers, it takes on extra significance. Customer service representatives who feel invested in the company they work for and the products they represent will inevitably provide superior service than those unhappy in their position. As individuals commit themselves to resolutions for the coming year, take the opportunity to encourage improvements in your customer service department. Consider these 5 ways to keep customer service representatives motivated.

1. Hold Weekly Staff Meetings for Feedback
Effective communication is one of the most important facets of running any successful business. Weekly meetings afford both representatives and managers the opportunity to address any concerns that arise week to week and provide relevant feedback. As the main point of contact for customers, the customer service department is the first to hear about any problems or suggestions for products. By making sure this feedback is heard and passed on to the product development staff, these meetings can serve to improve products, keep customers happy and make the job of your customer service reps that much easier. It also lets staff know their contribution to the company is valued.

2. Encourage a Positive Work Environment
A pleasant workplace means less risk of dissatisfaction and high turnover. When the customer service staff is happy in their work, this lends itself to how they interact with customers. Give positive feedback whenever it’s earned and make sure any negative feedback is carefully worded to be constructive rather than disparaging. Pay attention to conflicts amongst the staff and step in before they have the chance to influence the larger environment, setting up a meeting with HR or a sit down with the staff members to encourage communication. Find little ways to reward the staff, such as donuts in the office once a week, or monthly company lunches or happy hours.

3. Set Goals and Recognize the Staff Members Who Accomplish Them
Mojo Helpdesk makes it easy to track the time it takes to resolve customer inquiries and lets customers provide ratings to representatives for how an issue is handled. Find a way to honor or reward those with the best results or greatest improvement over time. Having something tangible to work towards, such as a bonus, gift card, or displayed list of top rated employees each month, can be a powerful motivator.

4. Offer Upward Mobility
There’s little incentive for employees to work hard and stay with a company long term if they don’t expect opportunities for upward mobility. The best customer service representatives know the company’s products well and care about the larger success of the business; a state that is best achieved by ensuring that employees see their own success as aligned with that of the company. Showing long-term loyalty and providing a consistently good performance should lead to promotions and raises—skimping on this will lead to the loss of your best staff members to competitors.

5. Give Representatives Freedom to Make Decisions
Encouraging consistency in business can be valuable, but becomes constraining when taken too far. Don’t micromanage. Allow for some flexibility and creativity in how representatives handle customer service inquires, as long as they stick to general guidelines and trust their instincts. Something as simple as staff upgrading shipping for free due to an order error can enable your staff to quickly solve a customer’s issue and shorten call times, saving money in the long run. There also might be some truly great ideas to come out of giving staff the room to make their own decisions.

A company that makes a priority of providing a positive work environment and motivation to its employees will quickly gain a reputation as such. This can positively impact the company from an internal perspective, but also in regards to the company’s customers. People like to do business with companies who have a good reputation for taking care of their staff. In addition to improving conditions for your current customer service representatives, these tips can help your business to attract and keep high quality employees moving forward.

Would you like to try our free, hosted ticket tracking/helpdesk application? No long-term contracts, signup fees, or termination fees. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime. We offer a wide variety of plans to fit any budget.

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