Everybody can benefit from stronger connections at work. These relationships can lead to all kinds of opportunities, from connecting with a mentor in a different department to being introduced to a potential new client. But in a world of hybrid schedules and packed calendars, building those connections can be tricky.

TalentSmartEQ’s Dr. Maggie Sass says you don’t have to go “all-in” to get the benefits of expanding your connections. All you have to do, she says, is run a few micro-experiments. We share what she means in this issue of PromoPro Daily.

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  1. Run the “one new person” experiment. Dr. Sass recommends identifying someone you kind of know or have never spoken to at work. Invite them to a short conversation — just 20 or 30 minutes. You could open with, “I realized we’ve never really talked. Want to grab coffee and compare notes on what you’re working on?”

  2. Upgrade one existing relationship. Connection isn’t only about new people, she says. Choose one relationship you value and invest deliberately. For example, you could send a voice note instead of a text or ask a meaningful question like “What’s been taking up most of your emotional energy lately?”

  3. Practice “kind, not just nice.” According to Dr. Sass, being nice is easy, but being kind takes effort. For instance, you could practice kindness by offering a specific help. “Want me to file those receipts for you?” or “I can introduce you to someone who can help with that.” She suggests doing one “no credit needed” supportive act each week.

  4. Replace one email with a 10-minute call. If your workplace is drowning in messages, Dr. Sass recommends picking one thread and saying, “This might be faster live. Do you have 10 minutes?” She says you’ll reduce misunderstandings and build trust.

  5. Ask a “world-expanding” question. Dr. Sass says the goal is to ask questions that reveal hidden slopes: “What’s something about your day-to-day that most people don’t see?” or “What do you wish leaders understood about people like you?”

  6. Make connection visible on your calendar. She says if it’s not scheduled, it’s optional, and optional disappears. Aim to block a 30-minute weekly slot called “Connection.” Use this time to walk with a colleague or chat over coffee.

  7. Close the day with gratitude and awareness. This can be as simple as writing down one person you’re thankful for. And for awareness, write down one thing you learned today that you didn’t know yesterday.

Even if your team members work remotely some or all of the time, they can build strong connections with their co-workers. It can be as simple as replacing an email with a quick call or taking a minute to reconnect with an old contact. Connections matter not just for camaraderie but for community, too.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Maggie Sass, PhD is the EVP of product, research and professional services at TalentSmartEQ.