Don't bring your lunch, get your CIO to buy you lunch!

There is a lot to be said about how tech and business programs struggle to get on the same page but the simplest way I have found is lunch.  Yep, I said it - Lunch, paper bag, in a cafe, on a bench - it doesn't matter, as long as it's a bite to eat and good conversation with someone other than your iPad.  

Lunch has always been my work time where I would just catch up plow thru the day - BUT I have found that the best lunches I have had were always either with peers or partners of the programs I supported.  You may think these were meetings in disguise as lunch but they really were about connecting and more importantly reaching out. 

I recently read a post called "Five Cures for What Ails IT" from John Baschab, senior VP of management services at Technisource, a tech staffing and IT services company  - I really liked another of his points made about an IT Steering committee, been talking about a group like that for over a decade but it's a hard concept for most non profits to get behind - but I digress.  What struck me about the piece was the "lunch concept" - I jumped out of my chair when I read that and ran to the frig to make lunch - I was hungry but it was an "ah ha" moment. 

During my last outing with my former co-workers and friends I mentioned my disappointment at how the organization doesn't encourage more of a group lunch on a daily basis.  They have this huge lunch room which hardly ever gets used.  At CBF where I spent 10 years of my career they have a very active lunch room - lunch is available in the Cafe and gets heavily used by the staff, eating at your desk is discouraged.  There's a reason for that:  it stimulates camaraderie, gives you a chance to break the daily routine and hear what others are doing via a different channel.  

As John states, getting your program folks out and in a different setting stimulates the conversation between IT and the program your lunch mate works - also give you the Technologist an opportunity to pitch ideas and make that much needed connection.  Making connections is a must have for Tech programs to be successful.

Most times eating lunch with program partners and peers outside your department was more about listening - I'm a fan of the three L's: Look Listen & Learn  or is it Look Listen and Lunch?  I'm also a big fan of Breakfast. Can I get some waffles, please?

Michael Sola is a Technologist who finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own.