If there is one nugget of advice that we should take away from 2020, it is to be human.
It sounds like such a simple request, but is often lacking in a business setting. We celebrate love (among other things) in the month of February. Love is a strong word, but loving one another is the basis of our humanity, so how can we love one another in the workplace?
Angela Ahrendts, Senior VP at Apple, said, “Everyone talks about building a relationship with your customer. I think you build one with your employees first.”
Whether or not you want to be, you are in relationship with the people you work with — coworkers, bosses, employees, etc. So, how do you nurture that relationship? How do you show people at work that you love them?
1. Get to know the people you work with.
This sounds so much easier than it actually is. While some people are an open book, others are not willing to share anything about themselves. Employing simple communication skills — listening, asking questions, being open to differing opinions — will take you a long way.
2. Understand that no one is perfect.
Everyone makes mistakes, even you. Our natural tendency is to hide our failures and cover our weaknesses. Being vulnerable takes courage. Be sure to bring your mistakes out into the open and encourage others to do the same. Ask for help when you need it, and the people around you will do the same.
3. Be honest.
Have courageous conversations. Approach these conversations with an unconditional positive regard for the other person. Be prepared for emotions. Hard conversations require tenderness and can contribute to stronger connections.
4. Acknowledge the contributions of others.
Go out of your own way and recognize when others do something well, professionally or personally. We all enjoy receiving praise and encouragement. Disperse yours freely.
5. Be open.
Just as you approach others with courageous conversations, be open to courageous conversations others need to have with you. A large part of fostering relationships is being open to giving as well as receiving feedback.
Don’t be afraid to be the imperfect human that you are. You will lose your cool. You will unintentionally make an insensitive remark. You will forget a birthday. Apologize and move on, but never stop loving the people around you.
We come from different families, from different cultures, from different educational backgrounds. These differences make each one of us unique, and we each approach situations based on those differences. The one thing that we all have in common is that we are all human. That being said, February is the month in which we celebrate love. So, be human and love one another.
