One of the biggest benefits of working is being able to meet likable individuals
Work relationships are valuable. We humans are social creatures, and we thrive when we feel connected with others. When you work, you interact regularly with many people, both in-person and virtually. If you make an effort to know them, you’ll likely find that you share some interests and values, and you’ll certainly share experiences with them. That can be the start of a meaningful friendship—maybe not immediately, but over time and even after one or both of you move on to different jobs. And your connections also can introduce you to others they know, and you may click even more with them.
What Social Fitness Is, And Why You Want It
Social fitness is all about building and maintaining quality relationships. The existence of quality relationships in individuals’ lives continues to be the study’s most reliable indicator for a good, happy, long life. And the opposite is true, too. The lack of quality relationships is a bigger predictor of early death than obesity and physical inactivity and is about on par with smoking and alcohol consumption. Furthermore, positive supporting relations can also help protect against chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and cognitive decline. If positive relationships keep us happier and healthier and help us live longer, why aren’t we investing more in them? It's for some of the same reasons we aren’t diligent about other healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercise, diet and sleep.
Consider the number of competing pressures on our time and attention: demanding jobs, career goals, child-rearing, caretaker obligations and other commitments. Plus, social relationships present two more challenges:
1. Dealing with other humans and their schedules as well as their quirks, and
2. The appeal of social media. The general population—find it easier to check their social media feeds on their devices, rather than contact the people they know in real life. We’re more inclined to read a post on LinkedIn, click the
“like”
button on Facebook or add a photo to Instagram, which means we tend to overlook all the close relationships that require more give and take to keep them healthy. No one’s saying to give up social media. However, we need to pay attention to the humans in our lives, too
Social Fitness At Work
Be open to connecting with co-workers, customers, suppliers and anyone else they interact with at work. You may not immediately—or ever—become besties with work colleagues; however, you can develop mutual respect, feel support and build a sense of camaraderie that can make your work and work relationships more enjoyable and rewarding.
5 Tips To Build, Maintain And Improve Your Social Fitness At Work
1. Strive to have conversations, rather than making deals or having efficient transactions. By talking and listening, you can better relate to others as fellow human beings.
2. Say yes to invitations for coffee, events and other opportunities to mingle and get to know people. Informal get-togethers and company-sponsored events may not be your favorite things to do, but for a minimal amount of time and money, you can share an experience with your work colleagues that can give you more insights about each other.
3. Be generous with your connections. If you have a sense that individuals in your network would enjoy meeting one another, go ahead and introduce them. They’re likely to appreciate the gesture, and they may even gain new connections.
4. When you lose touch with people you like, take the initiative and reach out to at least say “hi.” You may feel funny or even fearful about getting back in touch. However, most people, especially those with whom you have a track record, will welcome you reconnecting. Believe me, I speak from experience.
5. Expand your connections beyond work for a richer, more robust network and experiences. It’s often simpler to meet people through our job considering how much time we spend working. However, you can make connections through volunteer work, classes, church, the gym, other places where you hang out and, my favorite, the dog park.
Even if you’re shy, make an effort to connect. The results are worth it. Positive relationships keep us happier and healthier and help us live longer.
Adapted from: Forbes
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