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Champions of Coms #2 - Virtual Coffe Break

Virtual Coffee Break

Strategies for networking had to be rethought in the times of the pandemic. Here's one of my favorite networking strategies that I usually apply on Fridays, to start a conversation with colleagues I would otherwise not have the opportunity to work with:

1. Visit your company's staff list, e.g. on the intranet or in your company's contact list.

2. Pick a specific unit within the organization (e.g. sales, IT, production, etc.). Repeat this top down approach if you like in order to make the next step less random.

3. Pick a random person within the contact list of the identified organization unit.

4. Call that person. This is important: don't write a message, but call her.

5. In case the person is not available, move on to the next person in the list and go to 4..

6. Ask the person if she would like to have a short and spontaneous virtual coffee break with you (real coffee, remote meeting).

7. If yes: Hooray! Go get some fresh coffee, call again and enjoy your VCB. Else go to 5..


This has worked very well for me in the past. People might react surprised or even suspicious at first. Eventually however, once I have made my case (for instance by explanation that I am a new employee, not familiar with that specific part of our organization, curios about XYZ, etc.), the response I regularly get for the initiative is very positive. And more importantly: I get the chance to talk to awesome personalities in exciting areas that I would never have the opportunity to get to know otherwise. Often we don't even talk about work (see 'Pro Tip' at the end of this post) and I am granted a generous glimpse into impressive, sometimes outright inspiring aspects of people's lives. It is also good training for me in sharing the most vital aspects of my own work or life and to tell my stories in a nutshell.

I will definitely keep this habit alive regardless of Covid_19. It is always something that I look forward to during the week. I enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to connect to a new person very much. I regard the privilege to hear their story as something valuable and special. The best part about it is that regardless of how much my work week of a rollercoaster had been up to that point, each and every of my past Virtual Coffee Breaks left me with a feeling of elated positivity. I am very sure -but at least I hope- this feeling is mutual. I like to think that in the aftermath it makes little difference to that person whether she spends 15 to 30mins chatting with a complete stranger. But for me, because I have a tendency to be able to tap into my potential best when I enjoy what I do, it makes all the difference.

Pro tip

My 'ice breaker' at hand is to ask 'Shall we rather be diligent or courageous today?' diligent: talk about work; courageous: talk about anything but work

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