“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” – Henry Ford
In a primary school playground, kids seem to know who’s who in impressive detail – such as who their siblings are, which nippers they’ve joined or when they go to after school care. Communication across the classes is instinctively free flowing.
Get to an office as an adult, and this tends to stop as we walk around surrounded by barriers – literally and figuratively.
Yet it is those kids in the playground that are the ones who respond well to barriers, or boundaries – it tends to give them security, confidence, and they know what to expect. Interestingly, the boundaries don’t stop the conversation, energy or handball games.
With adults, it’s the reverse. These barriers or boundaries can cripple us.
However it is at work where the system is set up so much so that we aren’t expected to look, act or communicate beyond our boundaries.
At best, this creates is a wavering communication flow and inefficiency. At worst, it creates paralysis and disenchantment. What is needed is deliberate interaction.
What would happen if you created deliberate interaction?
You can start small – get off on the wrong floor of your office and walk around. Get a feel for another department. Or start a conversation in your office lift – ask your lift mate which department they work in, or even what they’re working on these days. I have clients who have done this and have actually put a face to the name of someone who is working on the same project as them.
Start a new approach and help break down some of those barriers. It’s amazing how enlightening it can be.