Lean on Connection to Level Up

It’s been just over a year since I transitioned to a new kind of work and a new kind of work environment. Many things are different than they’ve been most of my career and I’m still getting used to the changes.?

Something that has been on my mind a lot lately is the value of connection and the impact it has on both my work and my health.?

One thing I miss most about my “old life” is the teamwork. I knew I’d miss the people; my old teammates are funny, smart, and talented (shout out to my US Foods peeps!). What I wasn’t prepared for is how much I’d miss the WORKING TOGETHER part; the information sharing, the problem solving and thought provoking conversations we’d have as we tried to figure out how to best design a new program or make talent processes better and easier on managers.?

I’ve been lucky to work in groups that were collaborative and throughout my career working with excellent people has made me much better than I would have become on my own.

Over the last several months I’ve been making an effort to expand my network and meet more people I can learn and grow from and with. I’ve never been a “networker” but I do have the superpower of attracting wonderful people so when I reframed my own mindset from “networking” to “connecting” it made this process feel more fun and authentic to me.?

This shouldn’t have taken me so long to figure out. Humans are wired to connect. Though I knew this intellectually, I wasn’t living into it in a way that was working for me.

I’m sharing this in case anyone else needs a reminder of the importance of connection and social support to our work and, more importantly, our mental and physical health.

Strong social networks are associated with reduced stress levels, lower rates of depression, and an overall enhanced quality of life. Meaningful relationships provide emotional support, a sense of belonging, and the opportunity for personal growth. As we share life's joys and challenges with friends, family, teammates, or our extended community, we create bonds that contribute to a longer and healthier life.

In today’s world of tech and remote (almost) everything, maintaining and nurturing relationships has taken on new dimensions. Many of us are still navigating how to find our personal balance in hybrid work and reevaluating the role that work plays in our lives.?

Online communities, interest groups, and social platforms offer avenues for connecting AND they can be a source of disconnection and isolation if we’re spending too much time ‘lurking’ and not enough time truly engaging. Going into the office can even feel lonely if we’re not using our time there to talk and collaborate and laugh together.?

If you’re feeling a little disconnected, or stuck in your own zone too much of the time, maybe it’s worth getting out of your head a little more and into a more social scene.

Here are some things that are working for me. I’d love to hear any others you’d add to the list.?

1. Show up, in-person. Get back to some of the in person experiences that maybe feel like a PITA to get to but give you new energy when you show up. For me, that’s group classes at the gym and spending time with family and friends.
2. Be present. Whether virtual over zoom or in person, be where you are. Give the other person your attention. Close the other tabs and flip your phone face down to avoid distractions.??
3. Talk instead of text. I love a good group text chat with funny memes and comments from friends and of course it’s super convenient to chat through text instead of the phone but remember to insert some live conversations in there too.?
4. Be a connector. As you meet new people and get to know your coworkers and friends more, actively look for ways to connect them with other people or information they might find fun, interesting, or helpful. So many of my favorite books, podcasts, music, and resources all came to me from a recommendation. Offer up the cool stuff you know about to others, especially me please.?
5. Build relationships within your team. This can be hard if it feels forced but be willing to try some things out. Take the time to learn what your team would enjoy and appreciate. If getting together in person isn’t realistic, there are many virtual options. It may even just be a regular 5-10 minutes at the start of the team meeting to take turns sharing recommendations for TV shows and books or a little ‘show & tell’ style hobby sharing. Might I suggest some sort of nutrition, fitness, or health challenge to bring the group together AND level up each person individually? (shameless plug)

If any of this resonates, take action toward connection today. Reach out to a former colleague, check-in on a teammate you haven’t chatted with, or comment below and share other practices that are working for you.