In my 20s, I had this roommate I couldn’t STAND. She and I just seemed to be cut from a different cloth, and I found everything about her irritating. Most annoyingly, she’d NEVER buy the toilet roll!! It got to the point where I would roll my eyes every time I heard her come home. But one day, I realised something that shocked me:
My other roommate — who I adored — also did not buy toilet roll. But it didn’t bother me when he didn’t.
Because I hate feeling in conflict with anyone, let alone a person in my own home, I decided to explore what was going on. And I realised, I was forgiving the second roommate for similar sins, because he and I got along. So I knew what to do: I had to find a way to get along with roommate #1. Which began with actually making the effort.
So, when she came home, instead of sulking in my room, I’d go out and greet her and ask her about her day. We started having dinner together. I’d invite her to watch TV with me. It turns out we shared a passion for [beloved British soap opera that began in the 80’s] Eastenders — she taught me to call it “Easto’s”.
And guess what? I stopped caring about the toilet paper.
If you work with someone remotely, you don’t get the chance for those little incidental moments of connection. But I’ve figured out a hack, and it only takes five minutes. Find out what it is, here (or read the transcript below):
Have you ever tried this? Or do you have a DIFFERENT hack for getting to like roommates you previously haven’t? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks so much for reading! If you know anyone who has a virtual team they’d like to get along better with, I’d be delighted if you shared this with them by clicking on one of those round buttons below, or click HERE to share it on Facebook or HERE to share it on LinkedIn. And if YOU would like some help getting your team better and more comfortable with telling stories, in the form of a really fun and very interactive workshop, I’d love to help! Book in a free, no obligation chat with Team Yes by going here: yesyesmarsha.com/call
You rule!
xx (Yes Yes) Marsha
*TRANSCRIPT*
Do you feel like you and your team are struggling to connect and get along now that you’re all working virtually?
I’m Marsha from YesYesMarsha.com where I help you and your organization be unforgettable through storytelling, speaking, and good communication.
So maybe your team already was in different locations, or maybe everybody’s just virtual because of the pandemic.
You might find that there are little cracks starting to appear: people aren’t getting along as well; people aren’t connecting as well; and everybody’s productivity and engagement is down.
Are you missing the opportunities for connection and chit chat that you would get if you were in-person, those moments where you’re walking to the elevator or you’re going to get a coffee? If you are, there is a solution.
My team is virtual and we now have it as part of company policy that the first five or ten minutes of any meeting is chit-chat and in particular that we’re telling stories to each other.
Why?
Because stories are one of the quickest ways that we can really connect with each other on an emotional level, in a way that’s appropriate within the workplace.
You might think we don’t have time to spend five or ten minutes at the beginning of a meeting chit-chatting and telling stories. But think about the time saving further down the road.
Because when everybody feels connected, engagement is up, productivity is up, and of course that helps with retention.
So if you want your team to feel more connected, be more productive, and just have a nicer time at work, then make sure that you regularly allocate time at the beginning of meetings for chit-chat and swapping stories.
Thank you so much for watching. If you found that tip helpful, then give this video a like, you can subscribe, and if you want some support around how to tell those captivating stories, come over and find a ton of resources along with how to work with me at YesYesMarsha.com. I’m Marsha and I’ll see you there.
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