In his book, The Second Mountain, author David Brooks says, “the key to strong communities is every member maximizing positive relationships and connections.”

Of course, it is the key!

I think he’s saying it deserves consideration to encourage community members to increase their personal contacts.

If you’re like me, you’re passive on the contact activity. I can very easily stick my nose in a book, plop down in front of a television or focus my attention on a screen in my hand, as compared to making contact.

If you’re like me, you can be deep in your thoughts and pass by people in a hallway or the yard without making a connection with your eyes, a nod, or a word.

If you’re like me, you can sit at breakfast and never engage your teenager next to you.

So, I take Brooks’ encouragement to mean that we should each step up our game regarding personal, positive contact with each other.

It’s common courtesy to speak, to nod, to acknowledge.

But it builds the connective tissue to ask questions, listen intently, offer to help, follow up on commitments made, seek opinions, or give feedback.

The stronger the connective tissue, the better the problem-solving, the more resilient the team.

We teach the 6:1 ratio – positive to constructive interactions foster trusting positive teams.

Should you step up your game?