“[Wearing headphones] will severely handicap the performance of everybody, because you lose all the stuff that makes a company an effective way for people to collaborate,” Waber says.
Take Off Your Headphones and Listen
John McDermott
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While I understand the need to wear headphones when you’re up to your neck in work, I think it’s important to take them off every once in a while — not just to encourage collaboration but also conversation.

Yes, work is where you go to to work, but there’s nothing wrong with a little friendly banter between your colleagues here and there. That is a much healthier work environment in my opinion.