It’s Human To Connect

In last week’s message, I suggested that you take some moments to connect with your team, especially with those new to your firm. Everyone is trying their best to understand and fit in, and to answer the Critical Question. Did you do anything differently last week? How were you received? How did you feel, having reached out?

Of course, if you did nothing, you missed a whole week of opportunity to reinforce the quality of your relationships and team culture. It’s so easy to be consumed by all the workload and deadlines, that you forego touching base with people. You forget that they are people—human beings who have lives in and out of work.

We Aren’t Cyborgs

Remember this: we aren’t cyborgs. I like Donna Haraway’s definition: A cyborg is a cybernetic organism, a hybrid of machine and organism. Whenever people feel treated as cyborgs, they lose their motivation, enjoyment and goal orientation to achieve. When people connect and feel connected, it alleviates the alienation and isolation that comes with heavy workloads.

When you read this, you are probably thinking about how you feel—left out, left alone, no one caring much about you. That is, we tend to take a recipient perspective. Why is no one paying attention to me?

The counter intuitive approach is that, when you take the initiative position instead of assuming a recipient stance, you experience connection in a different way—as a leader. Have you noticed that when people take the initiative with others, they are viewed as leaders?

Be A Leader

There are recipients galore in your firm. It’s time for someone—YOU!—to step up and fill the leader void.

If you’re in a staff position, you can touch base with your manager. I know you have a lot of responsibilities to get the work done and ready for the partners. How are things going for you?

If you are a manager, you can check in with your staff. From our regular check-ins, I know you have been hard at it for a while. Are you doing ok?

If you are a manager, you can check in with your partner. From what I understand, it seems that we are a bit ahead/behind of where we expected to be. How are you feeling about what’s left to do?

If you are a partner, you can check in with your manager. I know that there is still a good bit of work to do. Are you feeling covered up by it all?

These check-ins are the grease that keep the production wheels going. Why? Because we are human beings, not cyborgs outfitted to get work done. This week, step up and assume a leader position and touch base with your team. They need you.