Want to measure Your team conNection?

TRY THIS...

We do love a good statistic, and in 2010, research showed that strong social connections can help you live longer by as much as 50%!

But how do you measure connection in a team?

I use a set of questions and ask teams to rate themselves on a scale of 0-10.

1. The people I work with understand me.

2. We can have meaningful rather than just superficial conversations.

3. We share interests or ideas - we have things in common.

4. They seem to know what I might think or feel about something.

5. I can often predict what they will think or feel about something.

6. Overall, we communicate well.

7. I trust those I work with.

8. I feel comfortable being myself here.

9. I have a sense of belonging.

10. In this group I can say what I think and feel without fear or repercussions.

The interesting thing that is often fed back is how our exchanges with, and feelings about only 1 person in a group can sway the overall result and what weight we place on some of these items over others… plenty to get you thinking and talking.

… and how do you then increase connection?

Now that depends on what the results were for you and your team of course… but in my experience it nearly always starts with investing time and energy in really getting to know each other, tidying up any misunderstandings, and flushing out any hidden assumptions that are getting in the way.

SOMETHING TO PONDER...

‘Connection is the exchange of positive energy between people.’

• Do you agree? If not, what does the word mean to you?

• What does ‘positive’ connection look/feel/sound like for you?

• Do others know that?

I wrote my book knowing that for many of us, it helps to do some of this work in private before sharing our thoughts with others, but ultimately connection involves others.