tea rounds

There are 2 desk units in my bit of the office, with a total of 10 people (a six and a four). The average occupation is 5 I guess. I have tried to instigate tea rounds, which initially met with surprising opposition, but happily, some people seem to have bought into it.

The other day I made my biggest round yet - only a 5 tho (I am used to regularly hitting 6's and 7's at my old work). I felt so filled with joy and satisfaction that I took a picture of it.


my first '5' at my current work. you can see my "position of cup = desk position of person" system in action for remembering preferences.

Tea rounds are so important because:

• they force you to get to know more about people. "1 sugar in tea, but 2 in coffee" is something I have not encountered before
• there is something about the level playing field of the tea round that for one moment, draws people's relationships away from role, heirachy, have you done your timesheets, etc
• they generate banter
• sitting there, and having someone make you tea is brightens your day
  
• the simple joy and satisfaction of servitude
• the ethos and art of doing a good job in everything you can: nailing 5-9 different tea/coffee choices and preferences like a pro

Currently we are at approx 50% participation with a frequency of about 3 per day, which I hope to increase to 70% and 5 per day by Xmas.