Mastering the Art of Workplace Pizza Ordering

This is a skill that once known, will be called upon time and time again.

After years of navigating the high-stakes, deadline-driven world of local news (shoutout to Storm Team Pizza) and startup life (hello, Bezos Two Pizza Team), I’ve honed a crucial skill: ordering pizza for the team.

Sound silly? I wouldn’t judge so quickly. In the situations where pizza is being ordered you are trying to get on with the work or the celebration. Knowing this pat can save tons of time and disagreements.

Ordering pizza for work is a different beast compared to ordering pizza for yourself at home. While your personal preferences (mine are basil, bacon, and garlic) might be a culinary delight for you, they’re not always the best bet for a group order. What you need is a “minimal viable product” approach to ensure everyone is satisfied.

Here’s my guide to making your workplace pizza order a success.

Step 1: Get a Headcount

Start by determining how many people are actually in for pizza. In workplace settings, a “maybe” is essentially a “yes,” so count those too. With your headcount in hand, you can now calculate the number of pizzas needed.

Step 2: Pizza Math

Here’s a quick formula for figuring out how many large pizzas to order:

Headcount/2.5 = # of Large Pizzas

Example Table of Outcomes:

• 1 Person: Small Pizza. If it’s just you, why are you even reading this?
• 2 People: 1 Large Pizza
• 3 People: 1 Large Pizza + an extra side like salad or breadsticks
• 4-5 People: 2 Large Pizzas
• 6-8 People: 3 Large Pizzas
• 9-10 People: 4 Large Pizzas, and so on…

Step 3: Choosing the Pizzas

Now for the secret sauce of pizza ordering. Here’s a foolproof strategy for selecting the pizzas:

1. Pizza 1: Cheese – A classic and safe choice.
2. Pizza 2: Pepperoni or a similar popular topping – This is usually a crowd-pleaser.
3. Pizza 3: Cheese – Reinforce the basic option.
4. Pizza 4: Wild Card – Supreme, Veggie, or something adventurous.
5. Pizza 5: Pepperoni or similar popular topping – Revisit a fan favorite.

If you need more than five pizzas, simply start back at the top of the list.

By following these steps, you will minimize complaining and showcase your skills as an intuitive problem solver. So go ahead, embrace the challenge, and let the pizza party begin!