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Welcome to Soft Skills for Engineers. I’m Michael Forrester, and in this lesson we’ll dive into the concept of social grease and its connection to the “water cooler” metaphor—key elements for fostering trust and collaboration in any team.

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What Is Social Grease?

Social grease is the informal “currency” of trust and rapport you build through casual, non–work-related conversations. These interactions—whether over coffee or during a quick Slack exchange—help you learn about colleagues’ interests, backgrounds, or personalities, making future collaborations frictionless. For instance, discovering that a teammate who seems intense at work is a weekend MMA enthusiast adds valuable context. With that insight, you’ll approach them more comfortably when you need assistance. Teams that invest in these small moments—grabbing coffee, sharing lunch, or chatting in passing—often enjoy stronger cohesion and better outcomes.
The image illustrates three scenes of people engaging in informal interactions, such as having coffee, sharing a meal, and conversing. It emphasizes that trust is built through casual interactions between team members.
Because rapid communication and collaboration are vital—especially under tight deadlines—knowing someone on a personal level means polite pleasantries carry more weight and trust grows naturally.

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The Water Cooler Metaphor

Historically, the “water cooler” was the hub for informal chats in an office—even today’s equivalent (a coffee station, kitchen nook, or a dedicated Slack channel) serves the same purpose. These spontaneous gatherings spark unexpected insights and strengthen cross-team relationships.
The image illustrates the concept of the "water cooler" as a place for informal chats among colleagues, with one side showing people gathered around a water cooler and the other depicting a virtual meeting.
Whether it’s before a meeting, in the hallway, or during a quick break, the water cooler is your go-to spot for casual talk. You might overhear budget updates, technology roadmaps, or personal milestones that deepen your understanding of the organization and its people.

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Physical and Virtual Interaction Spaces

In today’s distributed teams, it’s crucial to provide both physical and virtual areas for informal connection. Think of a random Slack channel for interesting articles, team spotlights at all-hands, or periodic “coffee break” video calls on Microsoft Teams or Slack. These spaces recreate the water cooler experience online.
Encourage team members to share non–work topics—hobbies, weekend plans, or favorite recipes—to build social grease over time.
The image illustrates two scenarios of social interaction: one with people working together in a physical space and another with a person engaging in a virtual meeting. It emphasizes the importance of both formal and informal spaces for team connection.

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Why It Matters in DevOps

DevOps is fast-paced by nature—unplanned incidents, production fires, and rapid response. When you know your teammates through informal chats, firefighting becomes less stressful because you understand who you’re working with.
The image illustrates the importance of informal interactions in DevOps cultures, featuring three scenes of people collaborating, socializing, and conversing. A caption emphasizes how these interactions enhance creativity, problem-solving, and team morale.
Beyond incident response, informal rapport fuels creativity, accelerates problem solving, and boosts morale—removing social barriers and enabling swift idea sharing.

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Key Benefits of Social Grease

BenefitImpact on Team
Smoother collaboration and deeper trustReduces friction in workflows
Casual chats that surface hidden insightsUncovers valuable project and organizational context
Physical & virtual gathering spotsInclusive culture across distributed teams
Strong rapport under pressure (DevOps)Eases high-stress incident management

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Summary

Social grease is the hidden social currency earned through genuine curiosity about coworkers’ lives beyond work. These informal connections build trust, cohesion, and efficiency. The water cooler—whether physical or virtual—is the metaphorical safe space that makes this magic happen.
  1. Social grease smooths collaboration and builds trust.
  2. Casual chats often yield unexpected insights.
  3. Virtual and physical spaces both matter.
  4. In DevOps, strong rapport eases high-pressure teamwork.
The image is a summary slide titled "Social Grease and the 'Water Cooler'" with four key points about informal interactions and their role in creating trust and cohesion in a DevOps culture. There is also a small video thumbnail of a person speaking.
Where is your safe space at work? Do you have an informal spot—physical or virtual—where you connect with colleagues and build your social grease?

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