Question

"Science can never come up with a better office communication system than the coffee break."
--Earl Wilson, American author and journalist

What is so effective about the coffee break and other forms of informal, routine communication in the workplace that can be an advantage to work-related communication? to work outcomes? How might these types of communication be dangerous, or negatively impact workplace communication and outcomes? How might you use these situations to improve your credibility among colleagues?

Answer 1

Coffee breaks and other forms of informal communications helps individuals open up and talk freely coming out of formal and ethical communications that are usually required in organisations. These give opportunity to individuals to express their views freely which they cannot in formal meetings. This type of communications have both advantages and disadvantages. While they are helpful to create a friendly environment and develop a bond among the employees , it will also cause conflicts due to back biting and groupism . This will make the work environment to get polluted. In formal meetings conflicts will get answered and calmed down due to the presence of management but in these informal communications there are more chances of outrage.

We can use these breaks to explain ourselves and make others know what we actually eant and maintain cordial relations with colleagues. We can also use these communications to express ourselves and rectify mistakes.