Stay Connected!

Working from home has its advantages for sure; it also has some serious downsides. 

Do you feel called to connect more with others?
As humans, we’re made to be in community. 

We’re not meant to be so isolated and alone. 

For many who no longer go into an office daily, the experience of aloneness is overwhelming.
No longer do they catch-up with co-workers at the water cooler or learn of a peer’s exciting news of the arrival of a new grandchild.  

How can we stay connected when our routines have taken us so much further apart? 

My advice? Be the example for connection. 

Here are some great suggestions to put into practice, taken from the playbook of several high-ranking CEOs who I’ve worked with or interviewed over the past few years. (Yes, you read that correctly - CEOs. If they can make time for these initiatives, so can you.)

1.    Be present

Whether with your co-workers and teams in person or via Zoom, ensure that you are fully present. Put away your phone and dedicate the time you have scheduled to paying attention to the room. Watch body language. Notice what is said and what is not. You can learn a lot about someone’s needs by simply paying attention. Too often, we lose sight of what the people around us are experiencing because our focus is only on ourselves. We cannot connect with others if we are not present for them first. 

2.    Birthday meetings

Ask for all your team members’ (or company) birthdays to be shared with you.
Put each on your calendar and reach out to every individual on their special day.
Set aside 10 minutes to physically speak with the birthday girl/guy and call them or invite them into your office to catch up. Many need a reason to share ideas, opinions and their dreams with another. This provides a beautiful window that they might otherwise not pursue with you. 

3.    Hand-written recognitions

When  you hear of something celebration worthy, send a congratulations note.
If you hear they’re struggling, be willing to acknowledge this as well, offering a few brief words of support. It takes less than two minutes out of your schedule and goes miles towards building and maintaining trust and connection. 

4.    Be vulnerable

One of the most powerful acts of connection is to allow your humanness to shine through. Don’t be afraid to share where you’re struggling or the mistakes you’ve made. Truth is, we’re all learning and growing day by day. When you think you have all the answers, when you think you cannot learn from someone, you erect a wall that separates you from the possibilities of a beautiful, divine connection. 

5.    Be humble

I’ve yet to meet a person that I have felt was better than me. I’ve also never met a person that was less than me. I would never ask someone to do something that I wouldn’t be willing to do myself, even if that means cleaning the toilets if needed. It’s an attitude I adopted early on that has served me exceptionally well, especially in being able to connect with others. When you can see yourself as equal to all, connection just happens quite magically. 

We all need to know that we are seen, heard, and valued. Small acts of kindness and humility go miles towards bridging whatever keeps us apart. 

Who needs to hear from you today? 

One of my favorite Gandhi quotes resonates well on this point. “Be the change you wish to see in this world.”   Start small. Start intentionally connecting. 

Let’s connect! If you’d like to improve your abilities to feel connected to your work, your purpose, your life, reach out HERE. First time clients always receive a complimentary session to test-drive this work. A whole new world awaits.