Tip 5 for Respect, Productivity & Notice at Work: Lunch with Coworkers

The fifth tip for achieving greater repect, productivitiy and notice at work is to take some of your weekly lunches with coworkers.  In explaining the rational for this  Shana Lebowitz references a study which finds that 80% of office workers take their lunch at their desks. While this may feel more productive stay at your desk, it comes at the cost of actions which can boost creativity and teamwork. 

 

Why would leaving the desk help spur creativity?  Leobowitz draws on Professor Kimberly Elsbach of the Univeristy of California to shed light on this. Elsbach observes that, “we know that creativity and innovation happen when people change their environment, and especially when they expose themselves to a nature-like environment, to a natural environment.”  This change in enviroment can simply be a different part of the office or an actual visit to a nearby park. 

 

How does lunching away from the desk help increase teamwork?  According to studies, if you are leaving your desk to eat with coworkers it ca .  In Ander Wenngren’s article entitled “Team Building in the Cafeteria,” he advises companies to encourage such lunches over corperate teambuilding practises such as trustfall and sporting events. Wenngren finds that, “even companies that don’t have a cafeteria or management support for daily subsidized food can take advantage of the research findings. Team leaders can spring for takeout food in a conference room or organize a walk to a nearby lunch place.”  Realisitcally, you may need to be near your desk during some lunchs, but it is worth trying to get outside more and to spend some lunches with cooworkers.  

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