Why Managers Should Encourage Employees to Socialize Outside of Work

My career path has been atypical to say the least.

Since I graduated collage without a clue as to what to do, I wound up taking jobs more out of necessity than with a clear career trajectory in mind. As such, I didn’t always find myself working in the kind of environments which I would thrive in, nor in position which were best suited for my skills and interests.

For whatever reason, I tended to gravitate towards offices with conservative, staid corporate cultures: pharmaceutical companies, public relations agencies and the like. Though I eventually found my way to more dynamic workplaces like the 92nd Street Y and, ultimately, started my own corporate event entertainment company here in NYC, my earlier experiences in the workforce left me yearning for more social experiences with my co-workers.

There were plenty of other 20-somethings at all of my earlier workplaces. However, due to culture, workload, or simple lack of interest, we rarely if ever had happy hours, after work “hangs” or team parties outside of the office. Forget about company baseball, softball, kickball or any other team sport, that was just something that other, cooler places organized for their employees.

I always felt pangs of disappointment and jealousy when I’d look at my friends at both other companies and in grad school, who regularly went out with their colleagues outside of the office in both company-sanctioned and unstructured social activities. I felt that they were not only having a good time, but were getting to know their co-workers, even managers in new and personal ways. For me, this was something which I missed out on, and which I regret.

If I can take one thing from this experience of mine and try to turn it into something good, it would be to encourage managers to promote social activities for their staff outside of the office. Teams will work better together if they are allowed to let their guard down every now and then, and be allowed to be themselves. Socializing opportunities also help workers feel less isolated, and foster a culture of team pride – which will only make things better back at the office.

If you aren’t already, why not take your staff out for a beer this evening?

Have a terrific weekend, everybody! Will see you again next week.