Socializing at Work - Do you partake?

v  Do you ever find yourself talking to your boss, peers, and subordinates about things other than work? Do you consider it socializing?

v  How about the occasional afternoon lunches or hitting the bar with your co-workers? Is that part of socializing?

v  Do you ever find yourself inviting people you work with, over for dinner on a weekend? Or hanging out with them and going for a group vacation together? If so, you might be building relationships that will last beyond work or even job.

I do not believe in wasting time at workplace that can otherwise be spent on doing the work. But consciously putting in an effort in regular socializing allows you to build the rapport and relationship with the colleagues you will be interacting on day to day basis.

I came to US about seven years ago and I would not have much of a social life, if I had not socialized with the people I worked. To me socializing is taking the time and saying ‘Hello’ and learning about the interests of other person. I recently started a new job, and I am learning a lot about the people I work with. I have already been on few lunches with my new team mates, and am learning about their key interests. It is also helping me learn about the diversity and culture of the new organization.

If you have already established the rapport and relationship, it would be much easier to call up Pat in Accounting to re-run those month end reports, because you missed an expense. And Pat would be more likely to fulfill your request right away, if he knows you personally. It is not to say you need to bribe people to do their job, but we all come across situations when we need favors.

I know that socializing can be difficult when you have constant demands on your time in your professional and personal life. Your initial instinct might be to take the time spent socializing and get the work done so you get out of there. Socializing can be a simple two minute chat in the hallway, or when you are passing by your colleagues work area. It can also be going out on lunch or a going to team event with your peers (potluck anyone?). It is not supposed to be stressful and awkward.

Some pointers on socializing at work

1. SmileJ. It will allow anyone to approach you.
2. Be yourself. Don’t try to read up on certain interests and pretend you know all about it just because your boss is into it. Just be yourself and ask questions if you don’t know enough about the topic.
3. Talk less and listen more. Just listening and letting other person talk while you are nodding, smiling and laughing along will allow them to feel comfortable talking to you. Do ask questions or chime in if you have knowledge about the topic.
4. Learn about other person’s interests. Once you learn the key interests make sure you discuss or bring that up in future conversation. They will love it that you paid attention and may even chat you up J (going back to talk less and listen more).
5. Talk about your own interests. Make sure you share your interests and let others know the topics you are comfortable with. This will direct future conversations towards the mutually accepted topics (Kids, pets, house, sports, politics, music, etc.)
6. Socialize one on one or in a group. You can choose to either socialize one on one or in a group setting. You can always do both. You can mingle and socialize with many colleagues during a department lunch, or potluck, but not everyone is comfortable doing that. You can choose to go one on one lunch or coffee break with your peers and socialize with them.
7. Do the favors for your peers when they are in time crunch. Make sure you do the favors for your peers when they need it or have asked for it and bank them in. This definitely eases the path to socialization when you can be counted in for saving the day.
8. You are at work to work, don’t over socialize. Make sure you understand that you are hired to do the work. Socializing is important now days as we all work in team environment, but don’t over socialize. Don’t spend half a day or few hours a day socializing during your work hours, when you could be taking care of customer requests or completing that project work. If you like hanging out with someone from work, find time to socialize with them after work. You don’t want to over socialize and create friendships at the expense of your job.
9. Don’t socialize at the expense of productivity. Make sure you are not socializing at the expense of your productivity. If the time you just spent socializing could have been used to take care of the incident or an issue, which means you are avoiding work. You are paid for the job to get the work done, not to find ways to avoid it. The decreased productivity will show up on your performance and will most likely result in job loss.
10. Don’t gossip. Socializing does not mean gossiping about other team members or even your boss behind their back. You will be risking your credibility if you participate in gossiping about others at work. And if the word gets out about what you just said about your boss or if the worse happens and your boss hears it as s/he is passing by your work area – you have risked your job for an unhealthy pleasure.
11. Don’t do it after work, if you don’t want to. Socializing at work has a purpose in workplace. You don’t have to socialize with the people you work after Work. You may feel that you don’t want to spend another moment with them outside of work, so be it. You don’t have to promote it but you also don’t have to participate in it. Keep professional life apart from your personal life.

What are your thoughts on socializing? Would you consider socializing with your co-workers?