89. Repair. Learn to have hard conversations.

One of the (many) factors contributing to disconnection is that we avoid addressing conflicts, hurts, and missteps. But we can learn how to have hard conversations and repair relationships.

communication, friendship, connectionJessica GiffordMay 15, 2023Comment

88. The costs of ignoring connection in the workplace

6 out of 10 American employees report they are lonely … which has enormous implications for employees’ health and well-being, not to mention financial costs.

connection, loneliness, productivityJessica GiffordMay 8, 2023Comment

87. People hate small talk, so why do we keep engaging in it?

You can’t just bring people together and expect connection to happen. You need to facilitate it…

connection, relationship-building, communicationJessica GiffordMay 1, 2023small talk, networking, minglingComment

86. Why you (probably) need more touch

Physical touch has a big impact on health and well-being, and most of us are suffering from touch deprivation.

connection, relationships, well-beingJessica GiffordApril 24, 2023touch Comments

85. Reduce social anxiety or discomfort in 2 seconds

If you’ve ever felt socially anxious, awkward, or like your emotional state gets in the way of connecting, this post is for you.

connection, communication, mental healthJessica GiffordApril 17, 2023self-talk Comments

84. Does social media help or harm connection?

Social media has changed the way we connect, but is it for the better, or worse? Well, it depends…

connection, friendship, mental healthJessica GiffordApril 10, 2023social mediaComment

83. Thinking outside the box to address mental health needs

With rates of depression and anxiety continuing to rise, we need to look at creative solutions to help address mental health needs. This post highlights one such solution … the friendship bench movement.

82. Three great ways to gamify connection

People are notoriously bad at following through on goals, even important ones. Gamification dramatically increases motivation and improves follow through (make it fun if you want it done). This post describes 3 great ways to gamify connection.

connection, friendship, relationship-buildingJessica GiffordMarch 27, 2023gamify Comments

81. Want to avoid cognitive decline? Be social.

One more reason to prioritize relationships: high social engagement has been found to help prevent cognitive decline later in life.

connection, friendship, well-beingJessica GiffordMarch 20, 2023cognitive declineComment

80. Practice entusiastic greeting to connect instantly

In our interactions with other people, some moments carry more weight than others. Do this to make a positive impression…

connection, communication, friendshipJessica GiffordMarch 13, 2023first impressions, welcome, greetingComment

79. Look for commonalities to connect with someone instantly.

We tend to like people who are similar us … in almost any way. When you look for commonalities it gives you something to bond, commiserate, or connect over.

connection, relationship-building, relationshipsJessica GiffordMarch 6, 2023common ground, commonalilitiesComment

78. Eye contact can help or harm connection

The gaze, the glare, and the gape … eye contact can make us feel seen, heard, and loved, or it can make us feel creeped out, squirmy, or fearful. Leverage the power of eye contact to build connection.

connection, communication, relationship-buildingJessica GiffordFebruary 27, 2023body language, eye contactComment

77. This simple attitude shift makes you more likable

Research shows that our expectations of how others feel about us becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If we expect people not to like us, then they are less likely to. What would happen if you started expecting people to like you?

connection, friendship, relationship-building, well-beingJessica GiffordFebruary 20, 2023social anxiety, social awkwardnessComment

76. Time alone improves relationships, mental health, and productivity

When we think about strengthening connection, we usually think about spending time with other people, but time alone can improve the quality of our relationships … and productivity.

connection, mental health, productivityJessica GiffordFebruary 13, 2023productivity, solitude, alone time Comments

75. Why belonging matters and how to build it

Having a sense of belonging leads to better outcomes all around, but how do you generate a sense of belonging? One way is through providing mentorship…

connection, belonging, productivityJessica GiffordFebruary 6, 2023mentoringComment

74. What to do when you want other people to change

There are times when other people’s behavior frustrates, irritates, or negatively impacts us and we want them to change. But giving a lecture or telling people what to do rarely works. Try these approaches instead.

communication, connection, relationshipsJessica GiffordJanuary 30, 2023lecturing, nagging, behavior changeComment

73. How helping others helps you

There are countless organizations, people, and causes that need support. You can make a difference by volunteering your time … and the benefits are reciprocal!

connection, happinessJessica GiffordJanuary 23, 2023volunteer, givingComment