With so much electronic communication, I know that many of you are as hungry as I am for more in-person connections. Twitter, texting, e-mail, and Skype are fine for business or for personal outreach and updates, but nothing takes the place of a good old fashioned sit-down talk, or a person-to-person meeting with your friend, business client, or potential vendor.
With so many meetings and scheduled discussions, we often don’t have enough time left over for the gentle art of conversation.
Here are some ideas for you to work with others in your business and to foster a culture of understanding, mutual respect, and knowledge of the others with whom you’re working. As you’re planning out the annual schedule, consider options to foster this kind of time together. True collaboration comes from a sense of a shared mission, and meeting up with others will help you develop that sense of comfort, familiarity, and an appreciation of “being on the same team”.
For your company to reach out to potential clients:
- Monthly breakfast outreach
- Cocktail hour
- Holiday party (pick any holiday)
- Volunteering event – work on a specific charity or philanthropic mission
- Art gallery opening
- Musical performance
- Theater event sponsorship
- Summer adventure day for kids
- Book launch
- Movie night
- Bowling event
- Cooking class
- Lecture series
- Community cook-outs
- Knitting circle
- Restaurant Tasting Tour
- Dinner cruise
- Field day/outdoor events
For your company to promote in-company networking:
- Coffee klatsches
- Lecture lunches
- Theme dinners
- Book clubs
- Athletic teams
- Fitness-related events
- Musical group (bands, chamber music groups, duos and solos)
- Writing groups
- Women’s networking
- Family events (child-friendly)
- Spa, massage, health and wellness screenings
Whatever you choose to do, schedule it in advance and encourage participation. When people feel more comfortable in their workplace due to more knowledge of their coworkers “outside of work”, or when your customers feel more comfortable in relating to your company as a brand, everyone benefits from the camaraderie, increased company recognition, and potential for positive energy.
Monica S Flores
Monica S. Flores leads large-scale web development projects in refactoring, redesign/redevelopment, digital platform buildout, & new product launches. She works with US-based & international associations, non-profits, public agencies, & startups on how to reach their communities online. Her focus is to build community, foster connectedness, & use her technology & management skills to make a better world. She believes each of us has an ability/obligation to use our knowledge, ideas, & talents to advance fairness, justice, safety, health, sustainability, & wellbeing. Find her books at Amazon or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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