Who we are surrounded by matters. It gives us a chance to influence and to be influenced. In business and personal life, the amount of intention we put toward who surrounds us is important. Proximity has the ability to impact our lives positively and negatively. It's a simple notion that plays out throughout our lives. As a school-age child, I often had the privilege of showing new students around, getting to know them while introducing them to others. I didn't really think much of it until one of my classmates thanked me years later for introducing her to folks that became good friends and enhanced her school experience for the better. I remember being a little shocked by the positive impact that small gesture of introducing her to others had invoked. Today, as a business professional and observer of human behavior, I continue to see the impact of proximity. For much of my career, I was one of the first people new hires would meet and I understood the impact of the onboarding process relative to the initial formation of supportive connections and relationships in the organization. People make decisions to mimic leaders and to avoid behaviors of leaders they disdain. Who we spend time with matters and we can learn from every situation. Our life experience is enhanced when we have opportunities to spend time with people that are in different seasons of life, people that have had different life experiences, and when we are able to experience different places and spaces. We can gain a better understanding when we have a greater perspective and are open to change.
So, be intentional about who surrounds you. Be intentional about who you introduce to your teams. Be intentional about the experiences that you afford your team or your family. Share, learn, grow, and enjoy the experience that comes with the rich variety around us.
