Socialization: Building Bridges not Walls by Marc LeVine

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There may be people at work who “wall” themselves away from everyone else in the building. If they are lucky enough to have their own offices, they can easily hide behind a closed door and only come out for the occasional coffee refill. If they work in a cubicle, they may still be able to evade their co-workers by failing to cordially acknowledge them on sight.

No company expects their employees to make friends with ANY of the people they work with. There may even be some legal and office-political pitfalls in doing so. However, it is recommended that anyone hired for a job know and embrace the culture of the company they signed on with. If the company encourages collaboration – COLLABORATE. If they go a step further and arrange events to socialize – SOCIALIZE.

To know your place, you must KNOW YOUR PLACE.

If you do not feel comfortable working for companies that encourage camaraderie and fraternity, working there may not be the right fit for you. That is OK. There are plenty of organizations where people just do their work and go home. If that is all you want in a job, you can find it. But you may be missing out in developing professional mentorships and building valuable relationships with colleagues that can last your entire career. You may even miss key opportunities to present yourself to senior managers as the type of collaborator and leader they may wish to eventually promote. You cannot remain visible behind a closed door or avoid the annual holiday party unless the potential business consequences of doing so does not matter to you.

Get on a Better Track

Just starting a new job? Why not go to lunch with fellow team members or just enjoy a cup of coffee with some of the people, who have reached out to help you feel more comfortable in a unique environment.

There is the distinct possibility that if you never offer to spend time with your work mates, they may stop inviting you to spend time with them. You may soon be seen as an outsider and – even worse - a poor organizational fit.

Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic has made it much easier for some to escape the crowd at work and hide. Working remotely has allowed many to “wall themselves in” miles away from their physical offices. Their only true collaborators may be their dogs and cats. And, that will not do a single thing for their career prospects, unless they wish to someday become pet sitters.

Here are some things you can do to become more "social" at work:

1. Always Review Your Employee Handbook. Be aware of what is considered acceptable work behavior and what is not.

2. Set Office Boundaries. Your co-workers should know when you are most available for chit chat and when might not be the best times.

3. Keep an Open Door. Avoid physically “shutting out” your colleagues, as much as you can. "Good fences may make good neighbors," but closed doors do not.

4. Participate in a Teamwork Culture. Let your work mates know you are there to contribute to the team effort.

5. Seek Out Friendly Conversations. You do not have to hang at people’s desks. Just keep the conversation light in passing. Show your friendly side.

6. Be Known for Something. Make yourself a “go-to” person for something and others will be drawn to you. Be a company subject matter expert or even the office "cheerleader." You will be embraced by many.

7. Attend Work sponsored Events. Go, enjoy…tell an appropriate joke or two. And it is perfectly fine to just be a good listener.

The Author

Listen to Marc's latest interview on The AutomationBlog Podcast with Shawn Tierney.

Marc LeVine?is a graduate of Syracuse (NY) University with a degree in Industrial Psychology, Marc is currently Talent Acquisitions and Learning and Development Lead at Thermo Systems. He is the recipient of the Excellence in Talent Acquisitions Award from HR Awards in 2021. His prior employment includes senior Human Resources and Staffing Industry management roles with Edgewood Properties in Piscataway, NJ, Brickforce Staffing in Edison, NJ, InfoPro Inc. in Woodbridge NJ and Plainsboro, NJ and Harvard Industries in Farmingdale, NJ, a former Fortune 500 company. He also served as Director of Human Resources for New Jersey Press, the parent company of the Asbury Park Press, Home News and Tribune and WKXW-NJ101.5. Earlier in his career, Marc served as Director of Career Services and Placement at Union Technical Institute in Eatontown and Neptune, NJ. In addition, Marc owned and operated Integrity Consulting Associates, a New Jersey based Human Resources and Social Media Marketing firm for 11 years. Marc also served as Council President in his hometown of Freehold Borough, NJ