Years ago when I lived in West Texas and worked for Texas Instruments, I was surprised that frequently when I passed another car on one of the long stretches of highway, the driver would wave at me. People in that part of America typically make eye contact and say hello to passersby on the street. If you did this in most large cities, especially in the Northern parts of America or coasts where I presently live (i.e. Greenwich, Connecticut), people would think you were strange.
Small actions to connect with people around you are called “Micro-Connections.” These actions boost enthusiasm and energy in the work environment. Environments where people are friendly—where they make eye contact and say hello in hallways and elevators even thought they personally know one another well—are healthier and more pleasant environments. Another type of micro-connector is asking questions that are unrelated to work to learn more about an individual. Unrelated questions help us learn other people’s stories. Micro-Connections treat people as human beings rather than human doings. As Atul Gwande wrote in his book Better, asking questions unrelated to work “make the machine feel less like a machine.”
Little things can make a big difference. Start trying these Micro-Connections out and watch what happens.Over time you will be energized and you’ll build trust and esprit de corps in your organization.
