I know from experience that a lot of people don’t even look you in the eye, let alone talk to you, when you are a cashier. I see it now, when I watch people in the coffee place or at the store, they’re too busy talking to their friend, looking at their phone or just somewhere far away in their mind. It is easy to not even notice them. My prior years as a cashier gave me the gift of always noticing them and then making a small connection, if I can. I had no idea how powerful these small interactions were to supporting my productivity and happiness. In this article, “Is Efficiency Overrated? Minimal Social Interactions Lead to Belonging and Positive Effect.” the researchers showed that your mood is better (leading to higher productivity) if you engage in conversation with a stranger as if they were an acquaintance, instead of ignoring or avoiding them.
And if your mood is better, then your 3:1 ratio (prior post linked) is better, and your productivity is better! These small interactions also add to your sense of belonging, which is a strong basic human need that can make a big difference in where your internalGPS is taking you (or where you lead those around you).
Happy Halloween! May you have some scary good connections today!
I consistently intend to connect, in some way, with everyone I come in contact with. I always want to engage, even if it’s just a smile or a glance. I love the surprise looks I get when I love someone up. I feel great and oftentimes I know I’ve made a positive difference in their life that day. Easy to do.
A friend of mine is really good at this and I admire and appreciate the personal connection she makes with people on a regular basis. Specifically, when we are at a restaurant, she always makes sure to acknowledge and use the server’s first name. If they aren’t wearing a name badge, she asks them their name. It’s such an elegantly simple act, yet I think it communicates a lot of respect and recognition for the server. This is a behavior I am working to emulate!
Thanks for sharing your positive experiences Isadora!