Strategy Break Lets Bring Back Lunch and Other Retro Workplace Traditions Marla Gottschalk

Strategy Break Lets Bring Back Lunch and Other Retro Workplace Traditions Marla Gottschalk The workplace has evolved at such a break neck pace â€" that we often struggle to comply. So many things have transformed. Social media has revolutionized the tenor of communication and we have all jumped on the mobile carousel. However, 21st century developments, do not necessarily demand that we abandon every example of the old ways of doing business. Sometimes, tried and true traditions still hold quite a bit of workplace punch. In that vein, here are a few methods to enhance your work life with a bit of retro flair. Do lunch (and not at your desk). I love social media, Skype and a great Google hangout â€" but there is nothing like having a conversation with a colleague or friend over a bite to eat, at your favorite lunch time joint. Try this once a week and see what develops. Hold an unplugged meeting. You may not remember what meetings were like before the ever-present distraction of devices, but that doesnt mean you cant give it a whirl. At your next meeting turn all phones, computers and tablets off   â€" then place them in the center of the table for the duration of the meeting. I dare you. Really. Say thank you.   Showing gratitude â€" now there is a topic that never goes out of style. Has someone gone above and beyond as a contributor? Gone out of their way to make your work life easier? Send them a hand written note. (Yes, these still exist.) Start early or stay late. I dont know about you, but working when there is no one else around can be a liberating experience. No calls or interruptions â€" simply dedicated time to think deeply. Everything knocking around within your mind has a chance to ferment and just be. Celebrate a success. I dont mean landing on the moon I mean We completed that Goliath of a proposal or We dealt with that important client or customer problem effectively. Buy a cake bring in coffee drinks. Any small gesture to mark the occasion. Engrave something.  We may not stay at a single organization for 30 years but many of us do achieve a healthy level of tenure. A gold watch might not be feasible, but marking the occasion of a 1, 5 or 10 year anniversary deserves more than a moment of recognition. If you are a freelancer, mark your relationships with organizations in the same manner. Taking a cue from the past is not always the wrong way to run a business. What retro practices would you like to see make a comeback? Dr. Marla Gottschalk is a Workplace Psychologist. She also writes for Linkedin and US News World Report.