Category Archives: Ways to Connect

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To Connect, Learn and Apply the Five Languages of Appreciation

Wrapped gift#60 Learn and Apply the Five Languages of Appreciation

Ask your direct reports about memorable times when they received recognition at work. As they describe these times, ask questions to identify their primary and secondary languages of appreciation (also known as “love languages”).

The five languages of appreciation in the workplace are as follows: words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, gifts, and physical touch. (Please note that physical touch is not a primary language of appreciation in the workplace.) To learn more, read Gary Chapman and Paul White’s The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace.

This is the sixtieth 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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Create a Culture Office to Promote Connection

Southwest-Airlines

#59 Create a Culture Office to Promote Connection

Research has shown that connection begins to breakdown when the number of individuals in an organization exceeds 150.  Establishing a culture office or center that reports to the CEO and promotes connection is a best practice.

For example, Southwest Airlines has a Culture Office that reports to the CEO. The Culture Office has 30 people and is responsible for promoting Southwest’s culture. In addition, there is a Culture Committee of 150 individuals who are spread throughout the company.

Texas Christian University (TCU) established the TCU Center for Connection Culture. Its vision is to make TCU the model for Connection Culture in higher education and the Center’s mission is to be the catalyst for intentional connection at TCU.

This is the fifty-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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To Connect, Share Your Stories

Honest-Conversation

#58 Share Your Stories, Be Open to Connect and Build Trust

The deepest connections are formed when you are appropriately open by communicating who you really are, what you really believe and your struggles in life.

When it will help another person and it’s appropriate, consider sharing what you’ve learned from past mistakes. This openness communicates humility and promotes connection and trust. If you are uncertain about when it is appropriate to be open in a particular context, seek the advice of trusted friends.

This is the fifty-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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To Connect, Affirm Your Colleagues

Good-Job-Cookie

#57 Affirm Your Colleagues

When you become aware of something a colleague did well, encourage him/her by saying so in person or sending a note or email. A handwritten note can be especially meaningful given the rarity of receiving such notes in the age of instant communication.

Remember that some people like being recognized publicly while others prefer private praise. Try to match your method of encouragement with your colleague’s preferred style whenever possible.

This is the fifty-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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To Connect, Learn Team Strengths and Vulnerabilities

Wooden mannequins pushing puzzle pieces into the right place

#56 Know Your Team’s Strengths and Vulnerabilities

Have your direct reports take tests that identify their individual temperaments and strengths (e.g. Myers Briggs Personality Type, Gallup StrengthsFinder, VIA Inventory of Strengths, etc.).

In E Pluribus Partners/Connection Culture Group’s work with teams, we often have team members take several tests and share the results with their teammates. We assess the team to determine its collective strengths and vulnerabilities in light of the work they are responsible for completing. You should do the same.

For the greatest impact, hire an outside facilitator to lead this assessment.

This is the fifty-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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Help Your Direct Reports Create Personal Development Plans

Coworkers who are friends at work talking

#55 Create Personal Development Plans

People are more engaged when they are striving and progressing toward goals.

Work with your direct reports to create personal development plans. Help them discover wise goals to advance their careers. Put disciplines in place to help them achieve these goals. Doing so will boost their effectiveness and their connection to you.

This is the fifty-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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Connect Through Team Activities

Volunteers at Soup Kitchen

#54 Take Time for Team Activities

Consider activities that you can do together as a team. Pixar Animation has Pixar University to help create connection among employees.  Each employee has the option to attend up to four hours of classes each week. The university offers more than 90 classes from filmmaking to drawing. The motto on Pixar University’s crest is a Latin phrase meaning “alone no longer.”

Zappos gives its managers a budget for team-building activities. Team activities done away from work help people to truly focus on one another rather than be distracted by being in the workplace. Doing something fun together helps people to like one another and leads to more cooperation.

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Help Colleagues in Need

Smiley face balloons looking up representing positivity

#53 Help Colleagues in Need

It connects with people when you reach out to show you care or help them during a time of need. The Beryl Companies has “Beryl Cares” to monitor the needs of employees and coordinate a response.

If you learn about a colleague who is sick, or has a serious illness or death in the family, respond in an appropriate way. Perhaps you could send a card to let him/her know you are thinking of him/her and offer to help if needed.

This is the fifty-third 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.

Photo from Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

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Establish a Team Vision Through Continuous Improvement Meetings

Two employees brainstorming ideas

#52 Hold “Continuous Improvement” Meetings

Periodically pull your team together for a session to identify innovative ways to improve.  The meeting could be focused on ways to increase revenue, reduce costs, improve quality and/or improve efficiency.  List the ideas, prioritize them, select a manageable set to focus on, assign responsibilities and track their completion.  Make this information available to the entire group.  Holding these meetings 3-4 times a year gets people thinking proactively about how to improve and gives them an opportunity to make a difference.

This is the fifty-second 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 Others Through “Flash Mentoring”

Employee connection with leader

 

#51 Employ “Flash Mentoring”

One way to match mentors and mentees is to ask them to commit to meet just once to see if both parties “click” (or “connect,” if you will) and if the mentor believes he/she has the knowledge/expertise and sufficient time available to meet the mentee’s needs and expectations. If both parties agree to continue, they should agree to a set number of additional meetings rather than leave the term open-ended. Unless both mentor and mentee agree to a set number of additional meetings, there is no commitment to meet again. “Flash mentoring” was a term coined by K. Scott Derrick in his work with 13L, a group of federal employees who share a passion for leadership excellence.

This is the fifty-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.