You spend all day collaborating on work with your colleagues, but how well do you really know them? Regularly stopping by the water cooler can do more than keep you hydrated ─ it helps you get to know your colleagues on a more personal level. This is one space in the office where non-work related chatter is encouraged, so make the most of it.

It can be really fun to become better acquainted with both those people you work with on a regular basis and others you don’t normally have the opportunity to talk with. However, water coolers are notorious for breeding drama, so it’s important to make sure you don’t feed into that.

5 Tips to Successfully Navigate the Water Cooler

Want to make a good impression at the water cooler? Use the following five tips to successfully navigate conversation:

1. Stay Positive: Never say anything negative about anyone else in the office, as there’s a very good chance this will come back to haunt you. The water cooler is a very public space and you never know who is listening.
2. Steer Clear of Drama: Even the calmest workplaces have people who like to stir up trouble. Head back to your desk immediately if you hear someone talking about a colleague behind their back or otherwise trying to start drama. You don’t want to be involved in office politics.
3. Keep Personal Stories Office Appropriate: It’s great to share updates on your weekend, but be sure to keep all details office appropriate. Never tread on subjects like religion, politics or detailed accounts of your love life, as you risk offending people.
4. Ask Questions: Make sure to engage others in conversation, rather than always dominating the discussion. Ask questions to learn more about your coworkers, as good chats are a two-way street.
5. Include Everyone: Everyone gathered around the water cooler is adults, so make sure you don’t behave like a child and ignore people you aren’t familiar with or don’t care for. Include everyone in the conversation, as it’s not nice to make anyone feel left out.

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