How Water Coolers Are Useful at Your Company?
If you’re looking for a fun and interesting way to engage your employees and improve the overall productivity of your company, consider setting up a water cooler. While some companies encourage employees to interact with one another via virtual water coolers, the real value of this type of activity can be realized by implementing a physical water cooler. Here’s a look at some of the best practices that you should follow to get the most out of this common workplace occurrence.
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The best way to get started is to ask your employees about their favorite conversation topics. You can do this in a formal meeting or simply through a survey. If your company is larger, consider setting up one-on-one water cooler chats. This type of conversation can lead to unexpected interactions and is a great opportunity to learn about your employees’ daily lives.
A well-organized water cooler can also serve as a social gathering. Set up a water cooler chat themed around a shared interest, such as gaming, or a team activity. Using a slack plugin like Connections by Roots can help you schedule these meetings in a simple and hassle-free way.
Water coolers are also a good place to discuss the merits of a new service or product. This can help you decide what kind of changes are needed in your company, and can lead to more creative ideas for new products or services.
While it’s impossible to predict what a water cooler may bring, studies have shown that workers are happier and more productive when they feel connected with their peers. For example, when employees feel a strong connection to their manager, they are more likely to speak up and provide feedback. It’s worth noting that some workers may be uncomfortable talking to their managers, but the right attitude can go a long way in making the workday more enjoyable.
There are many ways to implement the water cooler miracle, but there’s a reason the best managers are those who have articulated guidelines. Providing a platform for discussions will help you speed up the idea generation process.
One way to do this is to create a “Notion” page in your Drive folder. Create a document that outlines your rules and expectations, and enlist your employees’ input. Creating a suggestion page will also allow you to collect data about which topics are most useful to them. As you collect this data, you can build a better idea management system.
Some companies have even taken the extra step of facilitating these interactions by setting up a dedicated host, such as a HR representative, who can facilitate conversations. In addition, managers can take advantage of the water cooler’s serendipity by introducing a new feature.
While the best managers know that engaging their workers in the water cooler is important, they don’t always do a great job articulating the benefits of a casual conversation. Even in a fast-paced environment, this type of talk can help to break down barriers between team members and management. By encouraging workers to share ideas and opinions, you will foster a more positive work environment and build a stronger culture in the process.