Feel the Electricity in the Air at Accelerate

By Joyce Sigler posted 01-19-2022 14:17

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I used to dream about someone stocking my groceries while I was traveling on business. Then came Instacart. I love how it’s easy and saves me time, but the biggest payoff is when the driver comes to my door and says hello. My mood changes instantly; I go from a solitary creature to a social being. And I imagine you’ve had the same experience during these lonely, dreary days of the pandemic.

We’re numb from the coronavirus. We’ve gotten comfortable in our cocoon, going through the motions and Zooming until our eyes hurt from staring at the screen. Isolation is paralyzing and the only way to break the spell is to get out and see each other.

It’s that simple. We all need human contact — in a safe way, of course. So come to Accelerate! I’ve booked my trip and urge you to do the same.

This won’t be my first trip, either. I’ve been traveling for months, visiting our offices and meeting with people. Our firm has 18 locations and we’re in acquisition mode. Last fall we acquired an agency in southern Ohio, and it didn’t take long to realize I needed to be face-to-face with our new staff members to train them.

What did I learn? We’re better when we’re together. We see body language; we see facial expressions and hear the tone of a person’s voice. Heck, we can tell if the other person is paying attention to us. (Virtual meetings are a breeding ground for multitasking, after all.)

When we’re with other people, we feel an electricity in the air that we don’t get on Zoom. It inspires, it powers great ideas and fosters a sense of belonging.

I’ve attended three local chapter meetings so far, and without fail the reaction I get from people is like a shot of adrenaline. “We’re so glad you’re here!” Who doesn’t want to hear that? That sense of community is energizing; it turns frowns into smiles and unites us behind a common purpose. Science has an explanation for it. We experience a chemical reaction that makes us more creative and thoughtful.

We have numbed ourselves during the pandemic and accepted virtual interaction as a cure-all. And don’t get me wrong — it had its place. But I think the danger is people don’t always hear the right messages because we’re human beings who need face-to-face interaction. We need to reevaluate what we expect to get out of working together and set the bar higher.

It’s not difficult, either. Just be yourself. Have some fun. I like nonsense; it wakes up my brain. Other times all it takes is a simple gesture to break the ice. That’s why I always carry extra cables or offer to look up connections for a fellow passenger.

It’s natural to feel like COVID-19 has dealt us a bad hand and we’ve lost control of our destiny. So let’s take back control by gathering in Denver. Everyone says there’s no returning to “normal,” so let’s get together and shape our future reality. The coronavirus was nothing more than a launchpad to propel us into a new future — a future that we can shape. Together. In person.

Check out the Accelerate agenda and register today.
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