I am going to preface this blog entry by stating that I am an introvert by nature. I prefer seclusion to spending time in large groups. Please believe me when I say I that I understand meeting and spending time with new people can be uncomfortable and at times scary. Spending time outside your comfort zone can be very good, so whether you enjoy time with new people or not, I highly encourage you to follow this advice.
Chances are you work with quite a few different people. It is also very likely that you spend your lunches either eating with the same group of people or on your own. It is probably the same way you spent your lunch at school growing up. Break the habit, it may be comfortable, but you are missing out on a world of opportunity. At least twice a month invite someone new to join you for lunch.
You may be wondering why. There are a number of reasons. Here are some of the most important ones.
- You get to know someone outside of the office.
- This can help you better understand what motivates someone, who they are, and any shared interests.
- Sharing experiences makes people more willing to help each other
- You can gain a better understanding of what is happening in other areas of the business. This can present great opportunities for collaboration. You just may have the answer to solve their biggest need.
- You could make a new friend.
There are so many benefits to building these relationships that there are entire books dedicated to the topic.
My simple advice for making this a success. Be consistent in doing this at least twice a month. Be genuine, you are not eating with people to advance your career or suck value from them, you are eating with people because there is a legitimate interest in who they are and what they do. You will get to know people better, make some new friends, and very likely be presented with numerous opportunities you would have never been aware of had you not branched out.
