The power of coffee in building workplace relationships

The coffee machine has become the social hub of the office

A successful working environment is built on the foundation of positive coworker relationships and communication. However, with more and more modern businesses now adopting the ‘working from home’ option or have a workplace that provides limited face-to-face time with every employee, there are fewer opportunities to build rapport and maximise your employee engagement.

According to a recent survey by Nespresso Professional, a coffee machine in the office is fast replacing the water cooler as the place for chat and catch ups. In fact, 75% of managers say they would provide quality coffee over any other office environment change, including the ever popular open plan layout, to help facilitate better conversations.*

Simon Cross, Chief Recruitment and Relationship Officer at Healius (formally Primary Health Care) agrees: "Nespresso Professional in the office is the catalyst for connecting, the drink we choose to debrief over. The machine itself offers a moment to socialise and connect as a feel-good perk."

Simon Cross from Healius enjoys having a Nespresso coffee with employees and contracted healthcare professionals around the country

Not only does coffee represent social meetings, but it also helps break the ice for those who aren’t naturally sociable. Nespresso Professional has found, quality coffee in the office breaks the ‘ice’ when broaching difficult topics.

Whether it’s a performance review or a difficult behavioural discussion – managers welcome a way to make communication easier by facilitating conversations in an effective way. 92% of upper management and C-suites in Australia believe that having a quality coffee will assist them when it comes to having a difficult conversation.*

Simon Cross continues: "It's a small day-to-day perk which helps to break down connection barriers. We have found that taking the time to engage the doctors in our practices, over a cup of high quality coffee, can be key to overall satisfaction. Speaking over a coffee offers a moment to break down barriers."

For those wondering whether this is passing trend, or something that may last the test of time, the Nespresso Professional survey found that millennial managers are more likely than any other generation of managers to take time out over a coffee with their teams, often to facilitate a difficult conversation. This is telling of how important social connection is to the millennial generation.

And Simon Cross' comments suggest Nespresso is not alone in this assumption, "Millennial doctors bring so many new ideas, usually offered over a cup of Nespresso Professional coffee in our break rooms. If your business doesn’t allow for a sociable style of work, good luck retaining millennials!"

Nespresso Professional offers tailored coffee solutions to every office through a variety of machines and coffees for all tastes and preferences. Providing our customers with quality coffee experience is one of our key brand values. We believe that your daily work routine should feel seamless and so our Professional coffee is designed to be in the office to help improve sociality, productivity and kinship.

*Nespresso Professional Research conducted across Australia by Research Now SSI in March 2018, including Australia’s upper management and C-suite decision makers within all businesses.