Category Archives: Ways to Connect

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Managers Can Connect by Offering to Help

Businessman transforming word impossible into possible#80 Ask: “What Can I Do?”

Periodically ask your direct reports what you can do to help them do their best work. Choose an action or actions they suggested and then follow up. In particular, look for obstacles that you can help remove.

This is the eightieth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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Carve Out Social Times to Connect at Work

ice cream

#79 Carve Out Social Times

Schedule regular social time for people to connect. Genentech has weekly Friday afternoon social times where they serve drinks and snacks. We know a manager who orders pizza and salad for his team every other Friday.

During the warm summer months, organize an ice cream social on Friday afternoon to bring your team together for conversation (include fruit for the those who prefer a more healthy alternative). You should help serve those in attendance and once everyone is served make your way around to say hello to everyone. Avoid talking about work matters and instead ask people about their interests outside of work and what they are looking forward to over the remainder of the year.

This is the seventy-ninth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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Find New Ways to Connect by Discussing a Story a Week

Fired Up or Burned Out Book Cover#78 Discuss a Story a Week

Part IV of Fired Up or Burned Out has 20 inspiring stories of great leaders who created Connection Cultures (see pages 132-194). Take your team through one story each week and discuss how you can employ the practices in each chapter to your workplace.

To receive a complimentary digital copy of Fired Up or Burned Out, sign up for my Connect to Thrive newsletter, which offers helpful tips and resources on connection.

This is the seventy-eighth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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Provide Constructive Feedback

Feedback

#77 Provide Constructive Feedback

When providing feedback to help someone improve, we recommend the following: always communicate it in private, be respectful in your tone of voice and volume, and begin with three positive things you like about his/her work.  After sharing the three positives, say “I believe you would be even better if… [insert what you want them to do or stop doing].” Kindness matters and the approach you take will affect how the person receives the feedback.

This is the seventy-seventh post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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Connect With Your Team by Keeping Them “In the Loop”

Business Discussion

#76 Keep Them “In the Loop”

Keep your team in the loop on issues they need to know about. Whenever possible, bring individuals into the loop who express an interest in an issue. Doing so helps people to feel prepared for what’s ahead, which reduces stress and increases engagement.

This is the seventy-sixth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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To Handle Intentional Disconnectors, Wish Them Well

Intentional Disconnector

#75 Wish Them Well

Over your career you will run into intentional disconnectors. They care only about themselves. Psychologists call them the “dark triad” and they are also known as psychopaths, narcissists and Machiavellians. They have little empathy for others. They can make you furious if you let them. It’s best to avoid them and wish them well. Hopefully they will get help from a mental health professional because they need it.

This is the seventy-fifth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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If You Want to Connect, Proactively Help Others

Proactively Help Others

#74 Proactively Help Others

Seize opportunities to help others. Send your colleagues any information you come across that affirms the organization’s Vision, that may help them do their jobs better, that relates to a topic they are interested in, or that may help them in some way outside of work.

This is the seventy-fourth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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To Connect at Work, Do Not Yell or Dominate

Yelling in Meeting

#73 Don’t Be a Yeller or Dominator

Yelling and dominating is disconnecting. Don’t do either of them if you want to connect at work.

When he was the head coach of the Chicago Bull’s basketball team, Phil Jackson once told a young Michael Jordan that Jordan needed to pass the ball more to his teammates. Jackson explained that everyone needs time in the spotlight to shine so that together the team would win. When Jordan complied, it helped the Chicago Bulls team win six NBA championship titles over a period of eight years. 

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To Connect, Make Compensation Fair

Compensation should be fair

#72 Compensate Fairly

Compensation alone will not sustainably connect with and engage people so that they give their best efforts. However, the perception that they are not fairly compensated will undermine connection and engagement.

When someone perceives he/she is not fairly compensated, he/she will feel taken advantage of and devalued.  Establishing a well-thought-out compensation process and taking time to communicate it is wise.

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Connect Outside of Work

Happy People

#71 Connect Outside of Work

Individuals have different levels of felt need for connection. Some people require a much greater quantity and quality of connection than others in order not to feel alone.

If you need much more connection than most people, it may be unreasonable to expect that your need for connection will be fully met in the workplace. In such cases, it may be wise to seek ways to meet your need for connection outside of work. Consider becoming involved in community groups and developing a group of friends with whom you regularly interact.

This is the seventy-first post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.