Human Connection

For the entire month of March, I made a simple commitment at the office:  No emails to clients.  If I needed to communicate, I would first pick up the phone.

Was I surprised by what happened?  Well, not really to be honest…I knew what was coming, but I didn’t realize the magnitude. It was litterally life changing. I wasn’t just more productive all month, I was more connected. I was more energized. I was… well, just better?

The day to day grind transformed into an enjoyable fun adventure, fueled through the connections of other people. Suddenly, my “to do’s” transformed from boring tasks and checking off boxes… into grateful opportunities. I was back in the groove, back in the right mindset.

Conversations went deeper. Business turned personal.  Clients felt like… well, people, and not just accounts.  It sadly reminded me how fortunate I was to grow up before everything became a notification.  It reminded me of a simpler day when we had fewer short-cuts, when we didn’t have to try and read between the lines always. It was a time when our word was all we had.

So, the take-away – human connection is a powerful force. And although text and email may help us stay more connected these days, they can also serve a detrimant to our work… and our spirit. They may be able to keep us more connected, but they won’t deepen our connections.

When we refresh others, we too will be refreshed. Try it for a week.