Sharing a meal is proven to strengthen relationships. Working relationships are no different.
Eating together builds community. It allows employees to get to know each other, and also allows employees to learn the nuances of a restaurant’s menu. Fast Casual offers the pre-shift meal as an effective team building activity for restaurants.
The benefits of teams sharing a meal together is being noticed by researchers and business leaders nationwide. Researchers even have a term for this concept: commensality.
How do you make the most of a pre-shift meal ritual?
Four tips from Fast Casual:
- Build connections. Encourage team members to sit with others they might not know as well. Make sure everyone feels welcome. Pre-shift meals provide an opportune time to expose your team to new menu items, or remind them of ways entrees can be customized.
- Increase collaborative work. The benefits of sharing meals come not only from the actual time spent together but also from working cooperatively to serve the team.
- Focus on goal momentum. Teach and motivate your team by sharing the progress of team goals.
- Grow collegiality. Most importantly, ensure team members have time to relax and enjoy each other’s company. This step is key to deepening relationships.
