You put on your headphones to focus. Your boss sees someone who's checked out.

That gap between intent and perception is the subject of recent research from SMU, with real implications for how your work is evaluated, how much support you get, and how your career progresses. On Viewpoint, Lynlee speaks with Michael Schaerer, Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources at Singapore Management University, about why something as ordinary as wearing headphones can trigger very different judgments, and why organisations haven't resolved the tension between being available and being effective. Is modern work becoming more performative? And are organisations doing enough to recognise the value of deep, uninterrupted work?