Connected

We have all experienced situations where we found an immediate connection with someone. Maybe it was “love at first sight” or just someone that you instantly became fast friends. That is a great feeling and the comfort level that it creates just seems to make everything that much easier. But, what about work relationships?  (I am going to skip the “love at first sight” topic on this one as that is an entirely different discussion.) In the work setting, we are thrust into a team environment where we likely didn’t get to select the entire makeup of the team, we often work in close proximity to one another and we are around each other for hours at a time. If you made fast friends, that is awesome; but what if you didn’t? And what if you are the leader of this team? How do you deal with a team member that you are just not clicking with? Whether you are in the “misery loves company” camp or you subscribe to the theory that a strong team can overcome anything, you have to see the value of building these strong relationships and as a leader you have an obligation to be leading that charge. I had some thoughts on this that I wanted to share-

It is a Two-Way Street- Yes, as a business leader it is part of your responsibility (stated in your job description or not) to build a strong and cohesive team. That would include you make the necessary connections with each of your team members and helping to facilitate each person’s connection to the larger group. It is critical for you to go the extra mile to make those connections. However, the team member also has to do his or her part to grow these relationships. If you are faced with a disconnected team member and you cannot find a way to bring them into the fold, it is probably time to have a discussion with that individual about their desire to stay with the organization. We always hate to see a teammate leave, but sometimes that break up is the right decision for the team and the right decision for the employee       

Vary Your Approach- I bring this point up often but remember when we are dealing with a team we are dealing with a homogenous entity. Our teams are made up of a group of individuals. The way you connect with one person might differ from how you connect with another. You need to assess each of your team members and identify how you can make a meaningful connection. Maybe it is a shared interest in a sports team or a hobby or maybe your only thing in common is that you work at the same place, but whatever it is you have to find it and use it to stay connected (I always like to at least check the weather in the location of the team member I am calling. I know it is superficial, but at least I can talk about something other than work!)

Do Not Underestimate the Power of the Connection- The reality is that we don’t always know what our teammates and co-workers are going through outside of work (or even at their desk). A breakup, a sick relative or some other stressor can really be impactful to a person’s life as well as their work. There is a chance that their time at work is their safe place from a world of chaos and your willingness to connect with them in a positive way might be the bright spot of their week. We shouldn’t take that lightly and we should do what we can to make our team and office a supportive environment

So, give this some thought as you are going throughout your day. Are you taking the steps build those relationships? Are you making that effort to form a true connection with our team?  A great leader can form those connections that build a stronger team and offer a positive environment that is performance driven and is conducive for personal and professional growth.

Onward and Upward