Connect in 1:1 setting (One to One, not One to Many)
Most office meetings are in a group setting. That is the most efficient way to transmit information or have a team building activity. Is it always the right way to connect with someone? Remember a relationship is a one to one, it’s not a one to many. We are not database records, as human beings we define our relationships one to one. Doesn’t it make sense to build them in 1:1 ? This is a very important question we have to ask ourselves in the next normal, where closer to 60% of the workforce is preferring remote work 3–4 days a week.
In traditional settings when we have meetings as a group, we get to individually engage in conversations with people sitting next to us before and after the meeting. We may be able to connect with others as we are entering or exiting the meeting rooms. We may walk back with them, stop by their office / cube and continue our discussions if time permits. These are not very practical in a hybrid workplace.
We are trying to mimic the same in a hybrid world, we are conducting lots of town halls, virtual happy hours, game nights. These are really great efforts by leaders to bring their teams together and keep them engaged. There is a major drawback to this approach in the hybrid workplace. Observing these events, you can easily catch a pattern. The same faces week after week on the zoom calls. I call them top 15% , they are socially active or became active in the next normal. Remaining 85% have become passive. They are busy with their work or life, they are still productive at their work. They just show up to look like they have attended.
These 85% don’t want to speak up in a public setting, and many times don’t know how to interrupt others in a social setting. Eventually they give up. 20 to 30% of this silent majority still enjoy the social meets as they can listen to what the 15% are doing and cheer them on. This could be a problem in the long run. As they silently keep working on their tasks, they forget to interact with others. They will forget others, and others will forget about them. Eventually they can become complete strangers, their interactions may be completely work related. As if they are asking or responding to a machine that speaks a human language.
To get things done in a corporate world, you need more than people and tools. You need strong and weak relationships. I am particularly interested in the weak ties, what some people call social capital. This gets depleted as people stop interacting with new people in the workplace.
A connect in 1:1 setting helps people let their guard down. There is no one else, both of them have enough control over the conversation. If they have to change direction it’s much easier than in a meeting with more people. They have a much better chance of remembering that person’s name, asking what they are doing, connecting at a personal level, sharing family details, hobbies, and interests, etc.
LetsConnectIn.com roulette brings that capability, it connects people 1:1. Try it today, it is very easy to use. Request a free demo using https://www.letsconnectin.com/contact
“Helping Leaders reconnect their organizations in a COVID accelerated digital workplace.”
“Helping people bond with their tribe.”
