Find the power of in person connections

by Chester Elton

This seems to be the season of getting back together. For too long we've not been able to see each other except in a two-inch video square on a computer screen. In many places, people are starting to gather again and I think it’s wonderful.

My co-author Adrian Gostick and I have had one of the busiest years of our working lives as we’ve been presenting live and in color all over the world. It’s been fun to watch how people light up when they meet each other in person, shake hands and even hug. It reminds me of the power of personal connection and how just about all of us social human animals crave physical connection. It is deep in our DNA to be social, to support and connect, and cheer for each other.

In a recent conference in Las Vegas, I was leading a conversation around how the company was going to attract and retain top talent—but quickly the talk moved to how they could create a culture of kindness. The leaders wanted to be known for attracting really smart, talented, and KIND people. That was so encouraging. They realized what they may have considered “soft skills” pre-COVID were now must-have skills for their leaders.

You want to be a great leader? Add kindness to your toolkit

Should we really be that surprised? In an 80-year Harvard study now run by our friend Robert Waldinger, MD, researchers have found what creates a happy, healthy and long life: It’s deep and meaningful relationships.

With each in-person presentation I’ve made this year, I’ve watched the joy in peoples’ eyes as they connect with each other. It’s been good for the soul to see, and it’s good for business. When you can gather in-person around a whiteboard, innovation happens. When you can sit down and have a meal together, relationship deepen and trust builds. And when you can hear people’s stories as see their facial expressions in 3D, we become more understanding, less critical, and are more understanding and tolerant. It is a win, win.

This came home to me in a very powerful way when I was able to squeeze in a day and a half, between speaking engagements, with many members of my extended family in Vancouver, British Columbia. Seeing three of my brothers, their wives, and kids literally brought tears to my eyes. I hadn’t seen most of them for more than three years as it had been almost impossible to cross the border from the U.S.

Even though he hadn’t seen each other in years, the connection was immediate and overwhelming. I had missed them so much. With all the isolation and separation, we’ve forgotten how important is human connection.

It is time to fix that.

At work and in our personal lives, when possible, treat yourself and your soul to those rich in-person connections that make work and life so much better. And if you can hold that hug just a little longer with a loved one, it will make you feel great!

The challenge this week is for us all to look for those opportunities to get together and connect. I would also love to hear your stories of connection after long absences.

Love and gratitude,

THE CULTURE WORKS COMMUNITY

Join?The CultureWorks ?Community! This is a place for leaders, managers and employees world-wide to discuss wellness and culture in the workplace. You will find this is a great place to share ideas, ask questions and come together to address important topics around creating a healthy work environment.

ANXIETY AT WORK PODCAST

My co-author and dear friend,?Adrian Gostick , and I are fortunate to talk to some of the world’s leading authorities on mental health and explore the causes of workplace stress and anxiety, along with practices that are proven to reduce tension and cultivate calm.?

In this episode of "Anxiety at Work",?we spoke to Dr. Waldinger who is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and Zen priest. He is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and directs the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest-running studies of adult life ever done. The Study tracked the lives of two groups of men for over 75 years, and it now follows their Baby Boomer children to understand how childhood experience reaches across decades to affect health and wellbeing in middle age. He writes about what science and Zen can teach us about healthy human development.