#6 - How Did 'The Biomed Water Cooler’ Get Its Name? (A 350+ Follower Special!)


So this is a 350+ follower special (it’s absolutely crazy that I’ve gained this many followers in under the first month of being live on Instagram!) Thank you to everyone for your support and I hope to be bringing you interesting content during the next year or so.

So why exactly did I want to call this blog the Biomed Water Cooler? The ‘Biomed’ part mostly because I am an aspiring biomedical scientist / researcher.

Granted, it is a bit of an odd name (to say the least!), but the whole point was to generate short 10-15 minute reads that would strike up a casual conversation with your colleagues at your nearest water cooler!

But what exactly is the notion of ‘water cooler talk? What are the benefits and drawbacks to it? Let’s discuss this a bit further… 

So gossip (or to use the precise term – reputational information sharing) is usually associated with negative connotations – and rightfully so, it can have negative societal implications. But several studies and investigations have found there are positive outcomes to gossip or an informal, non work-related chat, as it can result in closeness of understanding between individuals and create a friendlier, more productive atmosphere.

One such study included over 200 individuals and assessed whether ‘water-cooler’ talk could increase honest character traits and an increased work ethic.  A study from Harvard Medical School also found similar results, stating that ‘water-cooler’ talk aided scientists to produce research of a higher quality. They investigated this by looking at the relationship between first and last authors on a paper and the number of citations.

They found that as the collaborative ‘distance’ between these such authors increased, there was a lower number of citations, suggesting a lack of closeness between these particular team members. However, if looking at members in the same faculty or even in the same building, there was a 45% increase in citations compared to those who were not professionally ‘close.’  

So can we truly say that closeness results in an increase in successful collaborations and citation numbers? We definitely need more evidence (says the scientist within all of us), as not much research has been done into this area.

Larger groups or teams are trickier to navigate compared to smaller ones, as informal chats can be difficult in a team working on multiple projects. The general hierarchy of research teams sometimes mean that some individuals may be hesitant to voice what they may really be thinking, especially if they do not feel enough of a personal connection to their higher-ups. 

Additionally, the rapidly advancing technological age we live in places an increasing importance on staying connected, which increases the amount of time we work. An article from The Guardian stated whether social media platforms for employees (with the intent for increasing engagement and sociability) increased the chances of distraction, with several employers voicing concerns on this matter. However, enabling colleagues to share their accomplishments and celebrate the work of others allows for more positivity within and between groups.

On a final note, one’s ability to be a team player is a highly valued attribute in the working world. This is key to initiate a community spirit and greatly aids the development of a group, whether it be a research team or a football team. Many companies list a standard of values and core attributes that they desire most in individuals to help achieve their optimal working environment and increase employee engagement.

Chatting to someone informally helps to learn more about their individual interests and this relationship development is key to forming collaborations and increasing trust within the workplace. Granted, this has been increasingly difficult during the pandemic, as more people have felt distanced from their team members. But, if we take note of this and aim to increase engagement between team members, together we can strive to reach a better workplace culture and improve general collaboration and creativity within groups.

I’ll leave you to ponder this final quote:


“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan.

 

 

References:

Harvard Magazine Article: https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2011/05/water-cooler-effect

Water Cooler Icebreakers: https://friday.app/p/water-cooler-talk

Guardian Article: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/13/should-water-cooler-chat-be-left-offline

 

 

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