Off Topic Conversations Are Important

I read a blog post today¹ where the author stresses the importance of chit-chat and off-topic conversations on the quality of relationships at work.

In order for this to work, however, you need participation from your leadership team. Employee’s need to see off-topic conversations from the top.

• Off-topic spaces build belonging and team identity making people feel like part of the team, not just coworkers.
• They recreate the “kitchen/watercooler” online, enabling natural greetings, chit-chat, and human connection.
• Camaraderie and empathy from casual chat smooth professional work (kinder code reviews, less frustration, easier collaboration).
• Social breaks help people unwind; acknowledging this ultimately benefits productivity.
• Culture and leadership matter: managers must model participation so people feel it’s okay to use these spaces; channels alone aren’t enough.
• Remote/open-source communities prove this works at scale—relationships formed via off-topic chat are strong enough to drive real-world meetups.