Social pressure is a powerful force that dictates our behavior to a significant degree. Many of us regularly encounter new people—in our favorite cafe, in our neighborhood, and at the gym—and generally feel as if there are two choices:
1. Acknowledge them and their newness (“I’ve never seen you before, are you new? It’s nice to meet you.”)
2. Ignore their newness and carry on, relegating them to the status of a permanent stranger.
But the truth is, we can subvert this silly norm at any moment by saying hello, asking how the person’s day is going, and practicing the timeless art of acknowledging another person’s humanity.
Taken further, we can contact the friend that we feel guilty for not checking in with, forward an article to a family member, and celebrate a peripheral contact on LinkedIn for a meaningful accomplishment.
Over time, our lives become richer if we maintain a habit of strengthening weak ties.
Willie Jackson is a talent strategist, facilitator, and speaker who works with organizations that invest in the human side of high-stakes change.