The Impact of Small Gestures in Business

A Personal Reflection

Gerald Patt

2024-01-12T07:38:00.0000000 2024-01-30T10:10:21.9270000

Business environments, known for their fast pace, can lead us to underestimate small gestures' impact. However, these seemingly minor details frequently possess significant value for both customers and employees.

During a recent business trip over the festive season, I experienced a heartwarming example at the Salt Lake City airport. Amidst the typical travel chaos, a live violin performance, courtesy of the airport authority, transformed the atmosphere. This simple act wasn't about seeking tips or recognition; it was a thoughtful effort to ease the stress of travelers. Standing there, immersed in the music, I observed the profound impact it had on the crowd. It was a beautiful, memorable experience that the airport facilitated – an excellent example of adding value where it's least expected.

In our businesses, we should strive to emulate such thoughtful gestures. Small tokens of appreciation can make a significant difference. I've personally embraced this approach through various initiatives: leaving surprise gifts on employees' desks, sending Uber Eats gift cards for a "Hamburger and Fries" virtual meeting, or planning special Christmas tokens. These acts, however small, are meaningful.

However, it's crucial to execute these gestures meticulously. Last year, I learned this the hard way when our US team was inadvertently overlooked during the holiday season's token distribution – a mistake that did not go unnoticed. It highlighted the importance of thoughtful recognition.

Moreover, personal outreach can be a powerful tool. I spend time around the holidays sending personal messages to my network, clients, co-workers, and superiors on LinkedIn. This direct approach may have replaced handwritten notes, but its value remains unchanged.

As we look ahead, let's not underestimate the influence of small acts of kindness and recognition in our professional lives. Our customers and employees have choices; by consciously adding value in simple ways, we ensure their choice remains with us.

The Evolving Landscape of Co-Working Spaces

Why They Are More Relevant Than Ever

Gerald Patt

2023-12-28T11:00:00.0000000 2024-01-30T10:12:58.3330000

In recent years, the concept of co-working spaces has surged in popularity, and for good reason. These dynamic environments offer more than just a desk or an office; they provide a thriving community for professionals across various industries. As we approach 2024, let's delve into why being part of a co-working space is more crucial than ever.

A Community of Like-Minded Professionals

Co-working spaces bring together diverse groups of entrepreneurs, freelancers, and employees from different companies who all share a common goal: professional excellence. Imagine starting your day in a setting brimming with creativity and ambition. Such environments are hotbeds for networking, brainstorming, and collaborative problem-solving. 

Natural Networking and Collaborative Opportunities

In a co-working space, the opportunities for organic interaction and mutual assistance are vast. Facing a technical issue? Chances are, someone nearby has the expertise to help. This collaborative spirit is a cornerstone of co-working culture, fostering a sense of community where everyone contributes to each other's success.

Beyond Traditional Business Networking

Traditional business networking groups are increasingly seen as outdated, often lacking the depth and genuine connection found in co-working communities. Co-working spaces, on the other hand, offer a more integrated and meaningful networking experience. They connect entrepreneurs not just at a professional level, but also through shared experiences and learning.

Educational and Social Events

One of the hallmarks of co-working spaces is their emphasis on continued learning and social engagement. From workshops on digital marketing strategies to sessions on financial management, these spaces provide a wealth of resources for professional development. As we look ahead, the variety and quality of these educational events continue to grow, addressing the evolving needs of modern professionals.

A Catalyst for Business Growth

Co-working spaces are not just physical locations; they're incubators for growth and innovation. Being part of such a community means surrounding yourself with motivated individuals who are all working towards their goals. This atmosphere is infectious and can drive you and your business to new heights.

The Future of Work

As remote working and digital nomadism become more prevalent, co-working spaces have adapted to meet these changing needs. They offer flexible solutions for individuals and teams, making them ideal for a workforce that values mobility and flexibility. Recent statistics suggest that the number of people using co-working spaces has significantly surpassed earlier predictions, highlighting their growing importance in the global work culture.

Join the Movement

Being part of a co-working space is more than just a trend; it's a strategic choice for those looking to thrive in an ever-changing business landscape. Whether you're a startup founder, a freelancer, or part of a remote team, these spaces offer the tools, community, and environment needed to succeed in today’s fast-paced world.

Embracing the Evolving "New Normal" in Communication and Connection

Building and Maintaining Relationships 2.0

Gerald Patt

2023-12-20T07:51:00.0000000 2024-01-30T10:14:00.9600000

The pandemic has deeply altered our reality, dramatically transforming how we connect with others. Moving beyond the initial phase of isolation and quarantine, we've collectively adapted to the challenges of remote work, learning, and sustaining relationships from afar.

This evolution in our social and professional lives calls for a reassessment of how we stay in touch and forge meaningful connections.

With over three decades of experience in building relationships, both personally and professionally, I've witnessed the remarkable shift in communication dynamics. The pandemic was not just a challenge but an opportunity to embrace new technologies, enhancing the way we connect and maintain our personal and professional networks.

The Shift Beyond Traditional Communication

Gone are the days when a simple phone call sufficed. Our reliance on digital tools for news, business, and even leisure has grown exponentially. Video communication and digital messaging are now paramount. As of mid-2023, the use of video conferencing apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and others remains high, reflecting a sustained preference for face-to-face digital interactions.

The physical distance from offices and traditional work environments means being away from customers, colleagues, and loved ones. Being present and visible in their digital lives is crucial for maintaining and developing relationships. In today's world, passive communication strategies are outdated. Active digital engagement is key.

The Decline of Email in Favor of Video and Social Media

Email, once a cornerstone of professional communication, has seen a decline in effectiveness. With overwhelming volumes of emails sent daily, the impact of this medium has diminished. In contrast, video calls offer a richer, more personal form of interaction, leveraging non-verbal cues that emails cannot convey.

The use of video in social media for business purposes has surged. According to recent data from Hootsuite, a significant portion of online brand discovery now happens through social networks, with video content playing a vital role. Brands are increasingly using video to connect with audiences on a more personal and emotional level, focusing on messages of unity, care, and support rather than direct product promotion.

Video Conferencing: The New Norm

Video conferencing has become the norm for millions worldwide, transcending traditional business meetings. It invites a more personal glimpse into our lives, fostering stronger bonds with clients and colleagues. From impromptu appearances by pets and family members to shared laughs over quirky virtual backgrounds, these interactions add a human touch that was often missing in pre-pandemic communication.

Companies are now regularly holding remote conferences and meetings, finding value in the inclusivity and cost-effectiveness of these digital gatherings. This shift is not just a temporary adaptation but a long-term transformation in how we conduct business and connect with others.

Looking Ahead: Building Relationships in a Digitally Connected World

As we gradually transition from isolation to a new version of normality, the emphasis remains on strengthening relationships through digital means. The skills and tools we've embraced during the pandemic will continue to play a significant role in how we connect, work, and build networks.

In conclusion, it's time to fully embrace this digital shift. Whether it's a Zoom meeting, a social media video post, or a virtual conference, these tools are integral to thriving in the modern landscape of connection and communication.

References: Updated statistics and trends from sources like Hootsuite, Microsoft, and recent industry reports.
 

Recruiting for Character Works! Just ask this year’s winner of the Men’s NCAA’s Hockey Championship.

I have had the distinct pleasure of being a hockey dad for the past two decades. From watching my son barely maneuver on his skates at the local arena almost 20 years ago, to winning the back to back NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship this past weekend, it’s been an emotional journey to say the least.

We often compare events in sports to those in business, and we should, as there are many great lessons entrepreneurs and leaders can learn from sport teams that have achieved greatness. National Champions do not become that without great execution. What I mean by great execution is recruiting for success. How do you build a National Championship Team? Well, I learnt a great deal this past weekend while attending this year’s Frozen Four, the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship and cheering on my son on who is part the University Minnesota Duluth Bulldog Hockey Program.

Before you sit and watch the talent on the ice, what’s interesting to learn is that every single member of this championship team will tell you they are all as good as their teammates, no one talks about who the real “superstars” are. If you watch and listen to these young men through interviews, you’ll hear a pattern, they acknowledge only that all teams have equal competitive play and talent within them. I emphasis that these players are also always very complementary of their opponents. It was captivating to hear them talk like this… so I began to wonder what sets them all apart? How does one team band together to become National Champions two years in a row at such an elite level?

As I watched and listened to pre and post-game interviews I started to hear a word repeated specifically by players of the winning team, “Character”. What I found so compelling about this is that many people might think to themselves, who’s kidding who, what does a 20-year-old know about character? However, I constantly heard them attributing character to questions regarding their success, and I began to realize they don’t just understand the meaning of having good Character, successful teams exude it!

Many of us while watching them were scratching our heads at times, why? Well,  you have to ask yourself, how did a team from a city of only 86,000 people and a University with an enrolment of only 11,000 return to a National Championship for the third consecutive year and achieve the National Championship title last year and here they are again, how are they competing at this elite level successfully again? I’d love to share a few important points of the relations and comparisons of success between sports and business.

The first thing that made me smile, and got me thinking about this team’s success, was trigged by an event that occurred when I entered a local bar “716”. It was the pre-game meeting spot for the teams’ families and friends. I immediately met up with one of my son’s house mates from Duluth, Minnesota, who is a student at the University and works part-time as the Zamboni driver at the teams home town arena. I was in a bar in Buffalo, NY, approximately 1,100 miles from the campus and the team’s home Zamboni driver was present for support. Well the support group around the team felt it necessary that their Zamboni driver was there in Buffalo to support the boys while they compete for the national title.

Next, we all quickly packed up at the bar and headed to the red carpet event where the Bulldog Marching Band, Cheerleading Team and Mascot made an appearance! They had just arrived from the 17-hour bus ride through a treacherous snow storm, but nothing was stopping the program from having their full support group around them. I can just imagine the cost to bus the marching band, equipment and the entire cheerleading team along with hotels and food for everyone for all three days. The cost seemed almost irrelevant as it is part of the team and managements mentality that everyone involved in the program deserved to be at the National Championship. 

After the first evening of the Championship, I discovered something else that helped me uncover the mentality of this program’s successful operation. There were so many options for all the teams to keep them preoccupied before the final championship game from national television interviews, autograph sessions, and social engagements in Buffalo, the Duluth team chose a different option. One morning, they took time to visit the Buffalo Children’s hospital and brought some fun team fan gear along with their Mascot. It was more important for the team to take that time to give back to a community that barely knew them and make many children and their families smile. It was a selfless and giving mindset where they were encouraging the players to make meaningful choices driven by choosing to embody good character.

I was learning quickly that arrogance and selfishness had no place at this National Competition or within their program. It seemed to not matter what the team had accomplished in the past, only that all the members were truly grateful for having the opportunity to be in the place they were and to be a part of the Bulldog’s program.

Moreover, I was surprised at the lack of Ivy League schools attending, many believe to be the most popular schools had not qualified for the championship. No Princeton, Harvard, Brown, or Cornell. How is it that institutions that boast at being the best within their programs don’t make it to the championship? You learn quickly it is all about the program and members of a team buying into that program. How do you make players believe in the program and embody the character you want them to? 

Head Coach of the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, Scott Sandelin continually talks about recruiting character, they believe the backbone of their program is the high regard given to the selection of candidates, not just as players with talent but as the actual people they are. Candidates are scrutinized at the highest level, deep background checks at a level you can’t even imagine. They want to know who they are inviting into their program and to ensure those candidates have the capacity to buy into their program and embody the incredible values of the program. The team doesn’t want to ever disappoint Coach Sandy, they revere him. He’s the first to admit at times he may be hard on them, but I believe his messages are heard better that way.  He makes each member of the team feel appreciated, regardless if you are the starting centre on the first line or the man responsible for the filling of water bottles. Everyone has a role. Everyone is respected. Regardless of winning or losing, successes or failures, past accomplishments or failures, Coach wants to hear that his players are upstanding citizens who are idolized and give back to the community. It’s character he emphasizes, over sheer talent or national titles.

Last year when their assistant equipment manager “Hoagie” celebrated 37 years of his volunteering with the team they inducted him into the UMD Hall of Fame and erected a billboard in town celebrating the moment. When Coach Sandy was hired back in 2000 Hoagie went to see the new Coach right away and asked the Coach if he could keep his volunteer job… Coach Sandy’s answer was “I told him he’s got a lifetime contract here”…“He is the program”, this is how they treat a volunteer, with as much respect as any other member of the team

Beyond the character of the players, I had the opportunity this past weekend of interacting with their families. You learn quickly that every player, every family of a player has a story in which we call “Their Journey”, the life events that led them to where they are today.  Most journeys are not a fairy tale, actually I have yet to hear one of those. You hear of families that have made sacrifices to feed a passion within their child.  Quickly you realize the support behind these athletes is like no other and no two journeys are the same. Families have worked at molding their child to be a champion, not only on the ice but in their communities and academics as well. As we met and gathered over the three-day event every parent was full of compliments about the other players and everyone knows of the character of each player. We are all proud to be associated with such a team and more so the UMD program.

I learnt that group of champions are more than just talent, they lead by example in all aspects of their lives. The character of each member of that group is someone you want to get to know, better yet someone who would go out of their way to help you, someone you’d really want on your team. The local Minnesota businesses and alumni know it, the recruiting into Fortune 500 companies for these young men in the Bulldog program is incredible. There are multitudes of offers that come through for these men as they prepare for their post academic life. Remember the Zamboni Driver I met up with… he’s interning this summer as a Financial Analyst for a National Mutual company.

Perhaps today in business we need to step back and look at our selection process, what and who are we truly recruiting and what does that process look like. Is it all about the talent or does the candidate have the drive and honest character where we can teach them the talent? I, along with the UMD Program believe skills can be acquired, however character is difficult to teach. It is learnt through upbringing and quite inherent. I believe now that stronger character driven teams will yield better successes than teams built on straight experience. I hope this article has given you a second lens when reflecting on your recruiting processes. Perhaps the next time you are with a candidate ask them to tell you something about their “journey” and what lead them to you. You may be pleasantly surprised with what you discover about a person’s character, as you embark on building your Championship Team!