A Human Experience

As Tracey noted in our last blog, we’ve been challenged with pre- and post- Ian activities. One takeaway we’ve all had is that, when needed, people step up to help one another. Boundaries disappear and connection drives us. We need to carry this into our everyday lives. This thought led me back to a blog I wrote in 2019:

As I dive more deeply into the tenets of neuroscience, I find more and more studies on how we are hardwired to connect with others and the health benefits resulting from feeling connected. Considering how much time we spend at work, creating an environment which fosters connection is well worth it. The added benefit, of course, is that it will also Expand Your Influence.

Think about a time when you were working with others and it was a breeze. How were you showing up? How were the others showing up? I’m betting that there was a lot of creative interaction, open discussion and a goal larger than any one person on the team. Am I close? Imagine having that every day. With some mindful changes about how you interact and communicate, you can.

Start with curiosity. Ask questions and share ideas. Listen to what the other person is saying versus preparing your response. Be open to new ideas and ways of doing things. Build on each other’s ideas. Look at the type of energy you are bringing to problems. How many things are really life and death decisions? See, really see, the person you are talking with as a person. Be curious about who they are and what they care about. We all have lives outside of work. And, be prepared for some real shifts.

Here’s the bottom line: We have a choice on how we show up. When we authentically interact with others and are open to deeply listening and receiving, amazing things can happen. Why limit ourselves?

This Week: Your challenge is to try out an improvisation tool in conversation. Use the phrase “And what I like about that is… [acknowledging something that was said that you can agree with]” before tacking on your response. Be prepared to stretch your limits and have a laugh or two.