Day #723 - Finding Connection
Depth and Value
I’m on the train this morning, through Southampton, which is a major port in the UK. It’s where a lot of Cruise ships depart, so it’s not unusual for the train to be packed with holiday makers, laden with their bags, and today is no exception.
There are two couples sat around me, meeting for the first time, establishing a connection.
We are all very experienced at this: identifying context (some commonality, be it an imminent Cruise, or both waiting for a late train), sharing small and neutral stories (the weather, if you are British, the quality of the coffee, shared thoughts on where to store luggage), then progressing to deeper context (where we live, what we do, and perhaps - if it feels safe enough - what is going on in the world).
This first type of connection - familiarity, safe enough, sociable - is enough to get us through a Cruise. But probably not a crisis.
People describe how trust, respect, belief, and belonging, are all things that count when we need a higher level of purpose and performance.
Use your sixty seconds today to consider this: what types of questions, or contexts, help you build this second, deeper, level of connection?
In the Community research, we see some common themes around this: having shared experiences (not just Cruises) can lead to enduring bonds. But also being invited to contribute to things is valuable. In general, it’s more than being asked to do your job. Deeper engagement tends to correlate with ‘freedom’ and ‘opportunity’. It is, perhaps, build ‘out of the ordinary’, and if we find it, then it is valuable.
Welcome to Steph, Dom, Ash and Nina, new to our community this week: we are a community in dialogue with our practice as Social Leaders, for sixty seconds a day. You are very welcome in this space.
