ARE You TAKING ENOUGH SOCIAL RISKS?
I’m old enough to remember a time when wanting to speak to a friend meant calling their landline and asking their adults for permission.
It felt uncomfortable, and socially ‘risky’
What if they said no?
What if they asked me questions?
What if I couldn’t hear or understand them and felt stupid?
What if I forgot what to say? or worse said the wrong thing?
Social risk taking is necessary to grow and maintain your communication muscles for positive relationships. It’s why I make sure my son is being nudged (expected!) to do it, like I was, and why I think you and your team need to be doing it too.
TRY THIS...
Let’s start the year with a bit of a social workout.
Make a point of standing in a queue without a phone in your hand and start a conversation with the person in front of or behind you. (unsure what to say? just ask if they are in a hurry and want to jump ahead of you)
Pick up the phone and call someone you normally write to (unscripted) - and then maybe raise your game to leaving a voicemail
Proactively speak to someone you consider more senior or in some way out of your league or not like you etc. (like the friend’s parent on the phone)
Ask to sit next to someone who is sitting alone at lunch, on a bench, on the bus (if you don’t want to look like you’re flirting/pushy, pick a busy place and comment on how busy it is)
Offer to help someone by introducing them to someone they don’t know.
If those look too easy just get in touch and I’ll set you a more challenging workout.
SOMETHING TO PONDER...
Where are you on a social risk taking scale? is it a muscle to build?
Do you get out of your comfort zone more often with tasks or relationships? why is that?
What is your biggest fear around taking social risks?
SOMETHING FOR LATER...
If you are going to take that leap forward in your relationships this year then don’t miss out on my powerful conversation with Warren Munson of Evolve to Succeed Podcast.