Do you connect with your colleagues?
How often do people walk into the office, call or instant message an individual and just ask them to
do something? Certain people will do this a lot and others will occasionally do it.
Most of the time when we are sitting at our desk, we are occupied, with an email, a call, paperwork
or in thought about a topic or issue we are working on. So, when someone contacts you to tell, or
asks you to do something, your thoughts are broken into with no warning. Is it any surprise we don’t
hear or understand what is being asked? That we are put out by being asked to do it? But that is our
job, so why are we put out? Or don’t understand?
It’s because the connection was not built.
Connection doesn’t take long, ‘you look busy, do you have 5 minutes?’ ‘How was xxx meeting you
went to? Are you free to help?’, ‘well done on that piece of work the other day, can I ask you to look
at something for me?, ‘that’s a cute picture from your holiday, do you have 5 minutes?’
Note– how are you? Is not good enough. We don’t actively listen to that question; it is said all the
time with empty answers. Good, thanks you? Fine, you? Busy, you? None of that is real, we don’t get
real answers or connect by simply asking ‘how are you?’
It is that simple, connect by asking if they are able to talk now or do they need to finish what they
are doing, notice something positive about them and are they able to take time out of there day to
listen to you?
In the world where we work from home a lot this is just as important because we can’t see that
person, we don’t know if they are having a good day, bad day or how they are feeling.
Try it today, notice others around you, do they connect or not and how does that affect the person?
The detail–
Connecting with those at work will lead to a positive work environment, improved engagement and
productivity. Connecting will lead to a more open communication and employees feeling valued.
Why don’t people take the time to connect? Comment on something to make them feel seen and
valued?
The EXCUSE– too busy, not enough time or habit.
As noted above, by not connecting it makes people feel undervalued, why should I do it, not putting
100% into the jobs being asked to do. By a simple change maybe you will be less busy and have more
time if all of your employees are putting 100% in, because they feel valued and seen.