Whichever room water coolers have been placed in is in all possibility the most strategic place to meet and chat with fellow employees. It is a known fact, a hectic office schedule makes it almost impossible for to indulge in small talk with even their co-workers sitting close to them. Having the manager seated in a room directly opposite to you does not help either. Hence, in a lot of offices, the water cooler is the spot where you can interact with your co-workers.
Water coolers are now being manufactured in varying shapes and sizes. A few of them supply both hot and cold water. Some have iced water functions and in a few places, it’s a coffee making machine. It doesn’t really matter what it looks like, its other task is a gathering site for office colleagues. Think about the character known as Chandler from the hit series Friends, you will remember how he made small talk with his co-workers and also setup dates for Rachel while chatting around the water cooler stations. In my place of work, water cooler stations are the venue to converse with your colleagues. Ever since the yahoo messenger was barred from office computers, the solitary place left for a relaxed chat is the water cooler station.
Psychology students might find it fascinating to scrutinize water cooler politics. The quantity of information that is discussed around the water cooler stations may be explosive enough for some people to get fired. The discussion can range from gossip about our bosses, talk about how they dress or even their leadership and management abilities. In fact, the water cooler station is a great place to chastise your junior unofficially as against doing it officially. Things are taken lightly here and people being chastised may not be as defensive as in some other setting. At water cooler stations, the supervisors can say words of appreciation and support. A daily dose of encouragement helps a great deal in motivating the members of your team or even those under you at work.
If as a manager you are interested in learning your workers attitude about you, then consider installing a hidden recorder at the water cooler station. When people are not being observed, they talk freely and unreservedly. Notwithstanding this, this would be rather sneaky and in all probability not allowed! I hope subsequent to reading this article, office workers do not become too scared to be frank at the water cooler because they are never too sure that they are not being observed!
To talk about it honestly, the water cooler manner can give you a good idea about the work environment in a company. Sociable and smiling colleagues at the water cooler indicate a friendly work environment. In a situation where even at the water cooler station, office workers are serious then you can probably assume the work atmosphere is rather strict. The outlook of the workers themselves can be learnt at how they approach the water coolers. In case you perceive everyone going to the water cooler when a specific individual goes there, you can certainly take for granted that this individual is a very well-liked figure in the office. And if by chance, all the employees avoid going to the water during the presence of a certain person, then it’s about time you discovered the reason behind this also.
When we examine and think about water cooler politics we comprehend that they are very fascinating. The primary characters involved in it usually do not realize the flows around them. It’s the uninterested onlooker that can tell the subliminal attitudes. Sharp bosses place the water coolers near their office. They can thus watch office politics. It may be something small or it could be something vital enough to harm your present business. Occasionally people’s career can be wrecked by simple gossip. For instance, the gay rumour; how many times have the women in an office mistakenly taken for granted that some well dressed guy is gay. Or that the lady with the designer clothes is snobbish. When in actuality, it may not have been the scenario at all. Personally I believe that it is good management technique to be aware of of water cooler news.
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Have you observed an inoperative water cooler can make people very agitated? This is due mainly to the fact that they are not getting their daily round of gossip. Some people are motivated to work because they are in an inner circle and know what is going on and in a few cases, it is their motivation to come to work. Let’s face it, our office lives are humdrum at the best of times. So, due to the water cooler stations, we create some form of zest to our otherwise routine lives!