Coffee Conversations - Unleashing the power of connection

For those of you who know me, it will come as no surprise that coffee is my love language. For me, there is nothing quite like the aroma, the taste, and the ambiance of enjoying a fresh hot cup of coffee with others. with a hot brew in hand, I have been reflecting on what coffee connections can do for us, our workplaces, our communities, our world.

Just recently, I was at a corporate gathering with international colleagues from around the world.? We have been working together for quite a few years now and don’t often meet in a face-to-face “live” format, so it is always a wonderful experience when we do get this opportunity.? One of the things that makes our time together so rewarding, meaningful, and (dare I say, productive) is the way we can transcend the operational aspects and connect in genuinely authentic ways to truly see, know and value each other…. sharing a good cup of coffee is foundational in this regard. In fact, we even shared bags of coffee from the home countries of some of our colleagues as mementos of our time together.

Which brings me to the heart of this reflection – the power of coffee conversations.? A coffee conversation is one where “C-O-F-F-E-E” sets the stage for what comes out of the dialogue that ensues:

Connect – Really connect. Be present in real ways with each other. Stop and smell the coffee.? Be grounded in the moment.? From there, be …

Open-minded – Every point of view matters and can bring a perspective that we may have never considered which will serve to deepen and enrich our understanding of the situation and of each other.? Analogously, if we are sitting around a boardroom table in a square room and can only “see” what is directly in front of us, it will take the “line of sight” from all four sides of the table to get a full and complete picture and understanding of the room.? This open-mindedness allows…

Flexibility – With different perspectives and ideas emerging, we are more likely to have flexibility and innovation about the way forward.? Multiple paths can get us places and help us reach new heights never before imagined. However, we have limited energy and resources so we need to make sure we are grounded with a …?

Focus – Begin with the end in mind – what is the final destination, the desired outcome, we are striving to attain?? Keeping this focus, and drawing back to it (or rethinking and challenging it) when the conversation is becoming too divergent allows a more guided and productive…

Exploration – Curiosity is inherent to the human experience.? By nature, we explore and discover. Exploration has advanced our society and is essential to making the world a better place.? In our coffee conversations, we can explore what is working, what is not, what is holding us back, what could be better, how we can help each other.? And, helping each other requires…

Exchange – When we exchange observations and insights with each other, exchange lessons learned (good and not-so-good), are willing to seek understanding by not being afraid or embarrassed to ask any question and build off the offering of every person in the room, possibility blossoms.? Every voice matters and exchanging ideas together unleashes unimagined potential.

Coffee conversations are not that difficult.? We have them frequently in a social context and a cup of coffee can be a great connector.? For me, with coffee as my preferred love language, this application of the coffee conversation resonates. ?But it need not be coffee that brings us together.? It could be many other approaches or activities that create a safe zone where power differentials and formal office trappings are removed so “coffee fueled” inspiration can take off. In the corporate setting activities such as “Muffins with Management” sessions, walk and talk meetings outside of the office, fun days such as hack-a-thons, a community outreach event like helping out at your local food bank …? all of these approaches facilitate the opportunity for a less formalized and more open conversation to emerge and take shape.

I invite you to embrace coffee conversations – you may be very surprised with the new frontiers and success that will emerge. Grab a cup.? Let’s chat!