Engagement Technique: The People’s Lunch & Learn
Not every engagement initiative needs to be about performance, strategy, or company goals.
Sometimes, it’s about people being people.
The People’s Lunch & Learn is a simple, informal way to bring teams together by giving employees the space to share something they genuinely enjoy or care about. You may have heard about Lunch & Learns, but this is low-pressure, low-cost, and often far more engaging than a traditional “training session”, as it’s about people understanding more about each other.
What it is
Let’s not overcomplicate things, in the PEOPLE’S Lunch & Learn, one person or a small group from the company runs a short session during a lunch break. You ask for volunteers, and you can as an example do one yourself to kick start the event.
The key rule: it doesn’t have to be work-related. In fact, it’s often better when it isn’t. Sessions might include:
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How to storyboard ideas
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How to plan a sprint
or it could be…
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How to meal prep for the week
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Guitar basics
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A beginner’s guide to keeping houseplants alive
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How to get involved in your local community
The topic doesn’t matter nearly as much as the fact that someone gets to share something they care about.
How to run it
Keep it informal. This doesn’t have to be a polished presentation or a performance review. Aim for 20–30 minutes, with time for questions or conversation at the end. Make it optional, encourage curiosity, and provide lunch if you can, but don’t over-engineer it.
Some companies run this monthly. Others do it ad hoc when someone puts their hand up. Both work, this is one of the engagement techniques that get better over time, as more people feel comfortable (probably not one to start with if disengagement is high)
If you’re remote or hybrid, this works just as well over video. Cameras optional. Pressure low. ‘Sell’ this as an opportunity to share your passions, find like minded people, and build community within the workplace. It’s also an opportunity to practice presenting in a safe space.
Why it works
People’s Lunch & Learn breaks silos in a very human way. You end up learning things you’d never discover in a meeting. It also gives quieter employees a platform. Not everyone wants to speak up in workshops or town halls, but talking about something they love often feels safer and more natural.
Over time, it builds:
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Curiosity across teams
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Respect for different skills and interests
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Confidence in sharing ideas
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Stronger personal connections
You also start to see people as more than their job titles.
What to watch out for
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Don’t turn it into compulsory learning. Optional is key. It’s fine if you only get a few attendees – but ensure you’re communicating this with employees as very much part of team building rather than work!
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Avoid over-polishing. Slides are fine, but enthusiasm matters more – that said, you could provide templates to support employees.
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Make sure it stays a safe space. No judging, no “that’s not relevant” comments. Watch out for hecklers. Again – if disengagement is high, this might not be the technique to start with.
If someone says, “I didn’t know you were into that,” you’re doing it right! Think about the community that could exist by encouraging more people to bring their authentic selves to work.
The takeaway
People’s Lunch & Learn is a reminder that sometimes engagement is about giving people the space to be seen, heard, and appreciated for who they are. It’s not always hitting KPI’s!
When people feel comfortable sharing what they love, they’re far more likely to bring that same energy to their work.
This post is part of our Engagement Techniques series of practical, low-cost ideas to bring more connection and meaning into work. Find the rest here
👉 Want to explore techniques like this in more depth? I run interactive employee engagement workshops where we bring these ideas to life.