This article is all about tips and tricks to improve team culture on your team and spark camaraderie in an organic, non-forceful way.
Studies show that the average human spends ~85,000 hours in a lifetime at work. That’s a long time! One of the best ways to build a positive team culture and drive camaraderie is by creating opportunities for team members to get to know each other on a personal level. One great way to do this is by facilitating fun hangouts outside of the physical (or virtual) workplace. And let’s be real, for 9 out of 10 people, this means drinks after work.
At ReysUp, we recognize that people are human, and while it is entirely possible to go your entire corporate career and not let loose a bit and get to know your coworkers outside of meetings, why would you want to do that? That sounds really boring.
Avoiding situations with co-workers that aren’t 100% work related is certainly not a requirement for having a successful career. In fact, we believe that it’s a detriment. To us, a strong corporate culture and camaraderie is a vital component of any rewarding career.
With that in mind, we thought we’d loosen up a bit and write a fun article all about taking the initiative to build the team culture you want. In it, we are also sharing our best tips when it comes to corporate happy hours and giving recommendations on the types of bars to go to and drinks to order depending on the company you are keeping.
We hope you have as much fun reading this as we did writing it!
Build the Team Culture You Want: Take Ownership
One of the most common things I hear from employees in their 20s and 30s is that their corporate work culture is too stuffy and lacks fun. Now, it is true that most tech companies these days are trying to make a conscious effort to improve team morale – which is why you are seeing a lot more employee satisfaction surveys, lunch & learns, and fireside chats. And sure, these types of initiatives are fine, but let’s be real. They aren’t really the types of forums where you are going to get to know the coworker you spend over 20 hours a week with on Zoom calls. The events that really drive team bonding and friendship are things like team dinners, weekend volunteer events, or my personal favorite (and the focus of this article) – happy hours.
And so, when someone complains to me about their dull corporate culture, I often reply with the following advice: Take it upon yourself to set the tone and build the work environment you want to have.
And no, this doesn’t mean that you have to be the most popular person at work or the self-designated company cheerleader. What it does mean though is that you will need to take charge and initiate the idea of a team dinner or happy hour in organic channels. It also means that you will need to send the calendar invite (so people don’t forget it’s happening), check-in the day of to make sure people are still excited to go, and pick the perfect spot.
And before you jump to an excuse like ‘I don’t have the bandwidth to take on another role as culture champion for my team’, I’ll share one more tip with you: If you take the initiative to plan the first event and it’s a hit (which it will be if you follow this guide!), I guarantee you people will want another one. And when they reach out to you asking when it is, you can pass the baton and designate the next social planner of the month 🙂
Pick the Right Place
Picking where to host your corporate happy hour is an important decision, and it completely depends on who is coming. In this next section, I break down the bar scene and provide my best recommendations to yield the most positive results.
And before you dive in, I will share one final obvious piece of advice: Of course, when alcohol is involved, we have to be careful. It is never a good idea to get wasted with your co-workers, no matter how close you think you are. Just make good decisions and act responsibly, and all will go just as you planned.
Let’s get into it!
Also Read Ultimate Boss Business Woman Aesthetic Tips
The Bar Breakdown
Drinks with your work bestie
- Where is the reservation? The over-priced martini bar far away from the office
- What’s the order? Dirty martini with olives. No more than two though!
- Who’s paying? Split it down the middle
- What’s the vibe? Chances are the two of you are going to be gossiping (and probably complaining) about work and the last thing you want is for someone from the office to waltz into the bar and overhear you. Sit in the back in the tucked away booth where no one will bother you so you can vent about your day in peace.
Drinks with your direct reports
- Where is the reservation? The swanky new cocktail bar near the office
- What’s the order? A fun cocktail! Or 2. No more than that.
- Who’s paying? As the leader of the team, you should always offer to cover the tab, especially if this is an event to treat your team. That said, if people offer to throw down their cards, it is completely acceptable to accept them.
- What’s the vibe? You want to show your direct reports that you appreciate them and want to treat them to a nice night out on the town. But you also don’t want to inconvenience anyone on the team who may only be going because they don’t want to be the odd man (or woman) out. Pick a place near the office so it’s easy for people who want to leave early to dip out and get home at a decent time.
Drinks with your department
- Where is the reservation? The beer hall near the office
- What’s the order? A local lager or IPA
- Who’s paying? Usually, the most senior member of the group should pay. No need to be overly stingy (especially if the company is sponsoring it), but the general rule of thumb is to cut off around 2-3 beers per person. That way, people aren’t over-indulging and you are respecting the corporate event policy & budget.
- What’s the vibe? Beer halls are great because they are fun, crowded, spacious, and relatively inexpensive. You also don’t want to go to a place where the only thing on the menu is an 80 proof cocktail. No one needs to see the boss get drunk and you don’t want to be responsible for any subordinates making bad decisions.
Drinks with your boss
- Where is the reservation? The low key wine bar
- What’s the order? A glass (or two) of wine.
- Who’s paying? It’s very likely that your boss will offer since he/she is the more senior person at the table. That said, it’s always good to make sure you offer to put your card down and split the tab, though your offer will probably be turned down.
- What’s the vibe? If you are getting drinks with your boss, it’s likely that you want to go to a place where you can actually hear each other talk. Think of this as an elongated 1:1, a chance for you both to really get to know each other on a personal level. If you are both up to it, maybe even order a few apps to split!
Drinks with your client
- Where is the reservation? The bar that’s garnered all the attention from foodies & food writers in the area.
- Pro tip: Read up on the hottest restaurants / bars in your area on Eater or The Infatuation.
- What’s the order? Whatever the client orders. Follow their lead but cap it at 2.
- Who’s paying? 100% you (or your company). It’s pretty poor tact to ask a client to split a tab, especially if you are the one initiating the event. Note: If you happen to be friends with your client and they are the ones to suggest the drinks, it is definitely more acceptable to split the tab.
- What’s the vibe? Time to impress. If you know you have a client meeting coming up, make the reservation weeks in advance or set your Resy alerts up. This is your time to wine and dine your client, and the best way to do that is to show you put real effort in to get the coveted reservation.
If you liked this article and the idea of ‘getting the most out of your career’, be sure to check out our other articles on this topic like how to determine if your an over-performer. All of these things go hand in hand to make sure you have an enjoyable and rewarding career.
