Humanizing the Workplace

Liz Ryan has some ideas on how to humanize the workplace in 2007. An excerpt:

At one very large company I visited, I asked whether employees who don't know one another talk in the hallways, in the lunchroom, or in the elevator. "I tried starting a conversation with someone when I started here 10 years ago," said one woman. "Everyone looked at me like I was crazy." But talking to people—yes, even strangers—is a great thing to do, and culture change can start with just one person.

Next time you find yourself with one of those people you see all the time but don't know, why not say: "Gee, we must have passed each other a million times, but we've never been introduced—I'm Sandy James." If your workmate doesn't flee in terror, you may make a new work-friend and contact. Try this for a goal: Meet at least one new person a week in your workplace.