We often treat first business conversations like ticking boxes; introductions, pleasantries, a checklist of points to cover. But every now and then, something breaks the script. You open your emails the following morning and see a reply that reads:
“You turned a bad day into a good one.”
And suddenly, it makes you remember that what you’re doing has meaning even across a computer screen; as we haven’t even reached the first year anniversary of this community, a simple message like this is huge because it matters – like everyone else, imposter syndrome can hit us too!
Psychology tells us that even brief social encounters can regulate our mood and enhance our sense of connection. In a study published in the journal “Emotion”, researchers found that short, meaningful exchanges, even with strangers, can significantly improve wellbeing. These small, positive moments tap into what psychologists call “microaffirmations”: subtle cues that we are seen, heard, and valued.
In business, we sometimes forget that behind the metrics and proposals are people with inner worlds: stresses, distractions, maybe even a traffic jam that started the day off badly (or, in the case of my recent Zoom chat last night, possibly a missing gasket). We assume professionalism means keeping emotion out of it, but what we really need is to bring more humanity in.
That doesn’t mean oversharing or going off-piste entirely, but it does mean showing up as real people. Listening, jaughing, when appropriate. Being present. And occasionally bonding over an unexpected shared interest, like cars. (It certainly helps when the person on the other end of the call happens to be a fellow petrolhead; I’m convinced half the rapport was built on our mutual appreciation for precision engineering and the unmistakable growl of a well-tuned engine.)
Humour, empathy, shared enthusiasm; these are not “extras” in business communication. They’re often the very thing that makes the difference. They build trust faster than bullet points ever could.
In an increasingly digital, fast-paced world, being human in how we connect isn’t just a nice-to-have. So if you ever wonder whether your presence on a call matters, it does. You may be more than a line on the agenda. You may be someone’s shift from a rough morning to a better day. A spark of encouragement. A voice that reminds them business doesn’t have to mean buttoned-up and robotic.
And if you can throw in a quick sidebar about the glory of a V8 engine or the thrill of a perfectly taken bend at speed… well, all the better.
Thanks Andy
