Chips and Culture

The intersection of loud chip eating and work place culture.

Today we have a visual.

Take a look at the diagram below.

Day one: you eat chips during a meeting. you’re hungry and forgot lunch. what’s the big deal? well, it’s distracting.

The boss is trying to talk. The team is trying to talk. Customers are trying to patronize and all we hear is crunching and potato chip bags.

Two days later, someone else eats chips during a meeting. The boss is trying to talk but things become distracting.

Soon enough, everyone is eating chips and now we can’t hear anything!

What does this mean!?s

The chips represent behavior that can be distracting in and outside of meetings. When we behave in certain ways, we don’t realize how much other people watch us and mimic what we do. When we focus on our behavior it will contribute to an overall environment productive for everybody.

But wait…what if you are not the one eating bags of chips during the meeting? Whose fault is it?

Well, if you notice it, then you can tell those eating chips that it’s not a good idea.

It’s might go something like this.

“Hey, I was starving the other day, really wanted a snack but I don’t want to hinder us as a team during these meetings and I was wondering if you could consider waiting until the end of the meeting.”

Now replace “chips” with whatever behavior is hurting your culture and there you have it.

When you see something, say something, address it, and don’t let it ruin the environment.

And remember…don’t eat chips during meetings.