Connect first – then the rest will follow

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” Theodore Roosevelt

When I was doing a work assignment in Ethiopia it would take five minutes of saying hello before getting down to business.

In New Zealand “How are you?” “Good” are the responses I hear the most often.

Building engagement and trust in a team takes time and deliberate effort. It may happen naturally, but in many cases, it starts with a decision to be genuinely interested in what is happening to the other person.

Take time to stop, connect, and listen to your staff and colleagues. Here are a few ideas on where to start:

-        Schedule 5 minutes today to either take a walk around the office

-        Have the mindset of LOFO (look out for opportunities) and be open about how you can help someone else in your team

-        Ask a different question to “How are you”? such as “What is it you are working on that is the most exciting”

-        Listen attentively and just smile.

-        Share a positive complement. They spur the production of oxytocin, a feel-good hormone that elevates our ability to communicate, collaborate and trust others by activating networks in our prefrontal cortex. https://hbr.org/2014/06/the-neurochemistry-of-positive-conversations

Sometimes in the busy, stressful environment it is too easy to forget that others are also often under pressure. But it is worth it!

What is your best idea to be open to connecting with your colleagues and staff? Pop a comment below or email me grant@sparked.co.nz