3 tips for connecting at work

Connecting at work can be daunting —?reaching out cold might feel intimidating, and it’s hard to know where to start.

Thred is here to help! We’ve got a few fun & straightforward ways to build fulfilling relationships in the workplace.

1. Use those 3 minutes as people join a call

We all know the awkward silence at the beginning of a call as people are joining — you might have your camera off or maybe you’re finishing your last bite of lunch — and the easy thing to do is wait for the meeting host to get down to business.

Our recommendation: turn the camera on, come off mute, and address folks by name as they trickle in to help them feel included and recognized.

Then, if you’re getting warm or friendly reactions, ask a question about interests or experiences–something unrelated to work.

The goal is to find common ground. Once you’ve done that, creating a meaningful connection gets a lot easier. You’ll be surprised how quickly “do you have any vacation coming up?” turns into “I’ll send you the best photos from this weekend’s hiking trip.”

2. Connected with someone? Message them after!

If you and a coworker chatted about something you both enjoy, follow up later to solidify the common interest. Send them a direct message or email asking them more about their interest. That quick follow up reinforces your earlier connection and makes it clear that you weren’t just making small talk to fill the space.?

For instance –

“That hike you mentioned sounded amazing. Have you been anywhere else lately you’d recommend?”

“I was on mute earlier, but had to say your cat is so cute! How old are they?”

Remember, of course, to keep it professional — no one wants to get repeated or inappropriate messages.

3. Make some introductions

If you already have a few friends at work, think about if they already know each other and if they might get along. Think they would? Plan a work lunch together?— in person, virtually, hybrid, whatever makes the most sense. Lunch is the perfect time to connect, since everyone has something specific to do on their own (i.e., eat their lunch), but there’s also a lot of open time to chat about anything that comes up.

Looking for some easy lunch topics? Ask about the weekend before or the weekend coming up, and if you know what people are interested in, it always helps to toss that in too!

Examples:

“Been on any good hikes lately Aly?”

“How was everyone’s weekend?”

“Zara, I loved the cookies you brought in! Do you bake a lot?”

That’s a wrap on our 3 quick tips to build better connections in your day-to-day at work. Have other ideas? Comment below!