Let's have drinks and communicate!!

The term "drinking communication" is becoming obsolete.
Hearing that, as someone born in the Showa era, I feel a little sad.
You get invited out for drinks by your boss or senior colleagues, only to be subjected to their boasts, complaints, and war stories, and then lectured...
If that were the case, then "drinking communication" is a one-way and boring form of communication, so it's not surprising that it would fall apart.
Unlike drinking with close friends, you'll probably have to be a little more mindful of your surroundings.
I don't want to have to worry about this even during my private time after work!
If that's the case, then voices will start to emerge saying, "We don't need company drinking parties for the purpose of communication (there's no need for them to be drinking parties)."
Concerns about various forms of harassmentMany companies are refraining from holding events, and many business owners seem to be taking precautions.

Is it wrong to try to get to know your colleagues through "drinking communication"?

Generally speaking, there is a strong image that younger generations tend to avoid drinking parties (drinking communication),
According to a survey by Mynavi, when asked "Do you want to participate in company drinking parties?", 531 respondents answered "I don't want to participate" and 471 respondents answered "I want to participate," indicating that opinions were almost evenly split, although those who don't want to participate slightly outnumbered those who do.
Another survey found that about 60% of people feel positive emotions, such as "happiness," when invited to a company drinking party. (Survey targeting people in their 20s and 30s)
I was a little relieved to find that there were fewer people than I expected who completely rejected or wanted to refuse going out for drinks with their boss or colleagues.
As a result of the drinking party, 40% of people in their 20s and over 30% of people in their 30s responded that their relationship with their boss improved.It seems that quite a few people view alcohol positively, believing it can facilitate smoother communication with superiors and senior colleagues.That's right.

This suggests that it's perfectly reasonable to consider drinking and socializing with younger staff members in their 20s as a perfectly acceptable practice.

Opinions of those who believe drinking together is necessary for communication

As someone from a generation accustomed to drinking parties, I can't drink a lot, but I do enjoy them and think they're a good thing.
Looking back, I realize that I learned a lot about life from drinking with people of different generations and those I didn't get along with when I was younger, and I think that experience is proving useful now.
In life, it's important to have the attitude and opportunities to get to know others and to let others get to know you.That's what I learned.
Back then, there were many instances that served as negative examples, making me think, "I don't want to end up like that in the future (sweat)."
So now, when I attend drinking parties, I don't pay any attention to whether other people's glasses are empty or not.
It's tiring for me, and it can make those around me (the younger generation) feel like they "have to" do it, which could be one reason why they start avoiding drinking parties.
However, depending on the company, you might get a stern reprimand like, "Hey, your senior's glass is empty! You're supposed to pour it immediately in times like these! You're so inconsiderate!"
in this case,Drinking occasions can be a form of education, training, or social learning.It's used for that purpose, and it might be necessary for companies or professions that frequently involve dining with clients.

Long time no see, drinking together

The other day, we had a small get-together at our company.
One of our staff members, who usually works remotely, comes into the office about once every two months and stays at a nearby hotel. I suggested we "have a drink and a meal together" when that staff member was staying overnight.
We decided to have a casual get-together with anyone who can or wants to participate, as it wasn't an official company event and had little obligation! (We split the bill and everyone paid for themselves).
To ensure that staff members who can't drink alcohol, or who feel unable to refuse invitations, don't feel uncomfortable, we made a casual appeal through the company's group chat.
"Only those who can come should react," they said.
If the business owner initiates this, and directly asks the staff, they might become a little wary, right? (laughs)
We tend to let our imaginations run wild and make assumptions, both good and bad. (Sorry to all the business owners out there.)
Therefore, when making a casual appeal, I recommend having a regular employee or part-timer who doesn't hold a special position do it.
This time, I took the initiative to organize the event, and several members gathered, resulting in a very enjoyable get-together.
I was able to talk about hobbies that I don't often get to discuss during work hours, and I also got to know colleagues who had only recently joined the company.
The drinking party helped to bring us closer together, and it reaffirmed my belief that drinking parties are indeed a great way to communicate.
What was surprising was that even members who didn't participate...
"I'd like to go, but I already have plans..."
"I'm sad I can't go..."
"I hope we'll have more opportunities like this once the coronavirus situation calms down."
And there was someone who went out of their way to leave a comment in the chat.

Various communication methods

At our company, in addition to "drinking communication," we thought there might be other external activities that could lead to better communication among colleagues!"What happens when we give participants discretion?" A little experiment!?I have done.
We will form teams randomly through a lottery, and have them plan what to do, when to do it, and how to use the budget provided by the company within their teams.
As a result of the experiment, our staff's proposed plan was as follows:
Go out to eat a thick cut of meat that I don't usually eat.
Professional baseball game viewing (It seems to have been an event where members who love baseball games guided those who had never experienced it.)
Real Escape Game
Drinking beer at a stylish beer hall with a great view
And so, different teams showed their individuality, leading to interesting results.
It seems that brainstorming ideas also built excitement within the team, and the process itself became a good opportunity for communication.
While impromptu "drinking communication" can be effective depending on the situation and environment, the method we've tried at our company gradually shortens the distance between colleagues, and it might be good to use it in conjunction with drinking communication.

Why communication is necessary

A benefit of this kind of communication is the opportunity to learn about your colleagues' charms that you wouldn't discover through work.
Nomi-communication, aided by alcohol and the atmosphere, allows people to become a little more open and communicate in ways they normally wouldn't.
If I could get to know my companions,Communication in the workplace will also become smootherWouldn't it be?
In organizations like companies, it's considered ideal to "all look in the same direction and move forward" to achieve goals, but the characters involved, "everyone," don't really know each other well.

Well, what kind of efforts does your company make to get to know its colleagues?
There seems to be more that can be done, starting with "nommunication" (drinking and communicating).
Since I come from the "drinking and communication" generation, I'd like to use the power of alcohol to help me communicate enjoyably with my colleagues, who are nearly twenty years younger than me.