"I have one too..."

Recently I stepped into the elevator/lift, said "Good morning" to those in there. I believe (only) one person responded to me and that she did without lifting her face... I'm sure you can guess why - yes, she and the other person in the elevator were on their phones. The next thought that went through my mind (and action to my hand) was:
"I have one too" as I reached into my purse...then stopped.

A little later, I pulled out my phone to add a reminder to write this piece so let's get on with it...

Have you noticed that more and more our "screens" are keeping us from seeing and interacting with other people? It a really sad state of things. People would rather text or type than talk.

How did we manage life before these "screens" took over the scene? Some of us have lost the connection with others. For any leader to be successful, she or he (as the case may be) must establish, be and remain connected to her/his team members.

Communicating often and well is key to establishing a connection with your team members. Caring or being compassionate to your team members is "easier" where a connection exists.
Teddy Roosevelt, John Maxwell and others who this quote has been attributed to said it best "People won't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

It's so easy to get sucked into a screen and have the "I have one too" attitude. We should guard against that. Leadership is about people...and people need connection - to others not just to the impersonal network. This HBR article The subtle ways our screens are pushing us apart gives us some great tips for staying connected to our team members who are not co-located with us.

The next time you go into an elevator, drop the "I have one too" attitude and say "Hello" to one or 2 people - you never know who your next Manager or Team member will be. Stay connected...

Other recommended reading:
7 proven ways to genuinely connect with your employees
The 10 Cs of Employee Engagement/