When’s the last time you asked your employees how they’re doing?
And not just on projects. I mean, really, truly, sincerely asked them how they’re doing? How’s their family? How’s their life? How are they?
I’ve been part of too many workplaces where every conservation was strictly business. Please don’t get me wrong – I’m not advocating we sit around all day and chew the fat. Time is money, especially when you’re a marketing firm. But if all we discuss is work at every moment of the day – our souls, and the souls of our colleagues, will shrivel and collapse.
Our general rule of thumb is 5 to 10%. 5 to 10% of our conversations must be spent on talking about non-work-related topics. And notice we didn’t say “should.” We said “must.” Must. People must be heard. People must feel cared for. People must be treated like more than gears in a wristwatch.
So take a minute. Take 20, actually. And have a conversation. A genuine conversation. Talk to your coworkers about something real. Something other than P&L reports, how to convert more leads, or the latest news from the company meeting.
Engage with those around you. Listen to their story.
You might just find that your team starts to finally thrive.
(So go on… It’s okay. You don’t have to talk shop all day. Really!)
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