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One of the best predictors of your happiness at work is whether you have colleagues that you are close with. You dont necessarily need to be friends with your colleaguesthat is, you may not want to hang out with them outside of workbut you do want to have people you feel you can talk with and share your experiences. Unfortunately, many people feel like they dont have anyone at work that they know well at all. Workplaces have gotten more efficient, and so there is less time for people to engage in small talk that solidifies their relationships with others. In addition, even at workplaces where everyone is working on-site, there are still many meetings done via videoconference, so it is hard to connect with your colleagues before or after to say a few words. If youre feeling lonely at work, there are a few things you can do. Make space and time for relationships Developing better relationships with your colleagues may seem like a waste of time, but it isnt. Not only does it help to predict workplace satisfaction, but having close colleagues also helps to build trust. Some amount of trust building involves demonstrating to people that you will carry out tasks that you promised and do your work well. But, a lot of trust is built through relationship development. You tend to trust people you know well. When you let people in on details of your life, youre showing some vulnerability, which also builds trust. Indeed, when you think about it, the people you are closest to in your life are people you share a lot of your life with. They know what you like, what you want, and what you have done. They have shared good times and bad. That sharing influences trust in the workplace as well, and so it is valuable to set aside some time to build your relationships with others. Take some initiative When youre feeling lonely at work, you may also feel rejected by others. You may look around and see other people having conversations and wonder why nobody has talked with you. You might even start to wonder if there is something wrong with you that is preventing other people from wanting to engage with you. Rather than wallowing in the feeling that you dont deserve to be close to your colleagues, do something about it. Invite a colleague for coffee or lunch. Bring in pictures of your kids, pets, plants, or the products of your hobbies. Create chances for people to get to know you better. Over the years, I have collected and built a variety of Lego models. I have brought the finished models to my office, and I display them there. They are there in part because I think they are fun. But, they are also here to generate conversations when people come to my office. It creates a light moment to talk about something unrelated to work that builds my relationship with colleagues. It is a small thing, but I think it has an impact. Build a group For many people, it can be awkward to try to build relationships with one person at a time. If youre socially awkward, you may not want to have sustained conversations but you would still like to feel that youre part of a team. In that case, you might want to find or start a group at work that gets together on occasion around an activity to build a community. Use lunch hours once or twice a month to start a book club or take time before or after the workday to do a volunteer effort. A group that has a common goal is a great way to feel connected to your team. That spirit can feed back on the workplace. Constructing a group like this is different than the traditional team building activity that workplaces often create. Those activities are often forced on a group. They are done once. They may be fun, but they dont create anything sustaining. The groups I am suggesting are intended to persist over time to develop a set of relationships and lay down a collection of memories that ultimately create a more cohesive workplace.
Category:
E-Commerce
Not willing to be caught idling while Chase and American Express release new premium credit cards, Citi is launching one of its own: the Citi Strata Elite Card. While Citi has offered a premium credit card in the past (the Prestige Card, which some customers still have and use, but is no longer available to new customers), the Citi Strata Elite Card is the companys return to the pitch in many years. Specifically, the new card is designed to directly compete with Chases Sapphire Reserve card and the Platinum Card from American Expressboth of which have recently announced new features, fees, and revamps. As for what makes Citi Strata Elite superior to its competitors offerings? Pam Habner, Citis head of U.S. branded cards and lending, says that in the simplest terms, its the best card for premium customers who have a passion for travel and dining. The card itself boasts an overall value of $1,500 annually, against an annual fee of $595. That includes an annual $300 hotel benefit, $200 splurge credit (for use with certain brands, such as Best Buy or American Airlines), a $200 Blacklane chauffeur credit, and a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. There are numerous perks associated with American Airlines, too, which has had a long relationship with Citi, including four Admirals Club lounge passes. Card members also multiply their points earnings by 12 when booking hotels, car rentals, or attractions through the cards travel portal, along with a six-times multiplier when booking air travel or ordering from certain restaurants at certain times. In all, it packs a powerful punch for people who like to travel and eat out. Habner says that compared with competing cards, it is the card with the highest reward potential on the marketit offers travelers more benefits than any other card. And she notes that the top reason premium cardholders opt for high-level or premium cards is for the travel benefits, according to her teams research. There was a good amount of research, too, that went into the development of the card. While Citis previous premium card was designed for its time, the new card meets the needs of the modern premium customer, Habner says, and it took a good amount of time, data, and research to figure out exactly what those were. The Strata Elite Cards slate of benefits and perks, she says, reflects Citis findings.
Category:
E-Commerce
In a world of endless pings, scrolls, and streams, digital burnout has become a modern malaise. Particularly for Gen Z, whose lives have played out almost entirely online, theres now a growing hunger for something more grounded. In fact, 69% of 1824-year-olds now shop in-store weeklya striking shift back to the physical, the real, the tangible. This isnt a rejection of tech, but a rebalancing. For brands its a fundamental recalibration of what connection really means. Its both a challenge and a golden opportunity to deliver a life-led response to digital fatigue, and to become facilitators of meaningful moments in peoples lives. So, how can they do it? How can they create physical spaces that help people reconnect with themselves, with each other, and with the world around them? Retail as a Remedy, Not Just a Transaction It begins with a recognition that today’s consumers want more than shelves and sales. They want stories. Spaces that reflect their values, spark curiosity, and invite participation. Retail can no longer be passiveit must provoke. This starts with intentional design. Sustainability isn’t a nice-to-haveits a nonnegotiable. From ethical materials to platforms that elevate underrepresented voices, physical stores are a powerful stage for a brands values to be seen and felt. Think of Wingstops informal spaces for teenagers, or Raphas cycling clubhousesplaces with a purpose, not just a product. Community is the New Currency People arent just buying thingstheyre buying into tribes. And the most successful brands are those creating reasons for people to gather. From cooking classes to craft clubs, physical spaces can be reimagined as community hubs that foster identity and belonging. The brief? Create spaces where people want to linger, learn, leave their phones alone for five minutes. Maybe even make a friend. The Offline Club is showing whats possible here. Already established in Amsterdam as a place to disconnect from electronic devices, the concept recently launched in London, and hundreds of people flocked to unwind, engage in creative activities, and form meaningful in-person connections without digital distractions. Play as Protest, and Joy as Connection The exact nature of that purpose or community varies by brandsand crucially should feel authentic to that brand. For some this will be about play. In uncertain times, play isnt trivialits transformative. From the Balloon Museum to ball pit bars, were seeing a resurgence of immersive, childlike wonder. But the best examples go deeper, using play to spark connection and creativity. LEGOs Botanical Truck Tour is a brilliant exampleflorist workshops on wheels, where people can build, share, and display their own Lego floral creations. Its playful, meditative, and deeply social. A brand moment thats not about screensits about presence. More brands could lean into joy as a design principle, and in doing so, they could create spaces that cant be replicated on a screen. Mindfulness, but Make it Matter For others, the focus is on wellness. As with play, wellness cant be bolted onit has to be baked in. Todays consumers are seeking brands that help them feel better, not just look better. That might mean sensory spaces, quiet zones, or experiences that invite reflection and presence. Take HOKAs Run, Stop, Corner Shopa place for runners to recharge body and mind. Or imagine Urban Outfitters offering mental health workshops for Gen Z. Its not about becoming a wellness brandits about becoming a better human brand. Post-Digital, Deeply Human Yes, AI and AR are redefining experience. But the goal isnt to dazzleits to deepen. Virtual try-ons, AI beauty consultations, and frictionless checkout should exist not to replace people, but to enhance their time together. Sides, a fried chicken brand by YouTube collective The Sidemen, does this beautifully. We designed interiors that feature LED tickers showing live social content, connecting digital community with real-life vibe. This is tech as connective tissue, not wallpaper.The future of retail isnt screen-freeits meaning-full. Its about designing experiences that offer real reasons to return. Spaces that recharge us. Experiences that anchor us. In the face of digital burnout, people arent running away from tech. Theyre running towards connectionwith themselves, their people, and the planet. The brands that respond with intention, imagination, and integrity? Theyll be the ones shaping not just what we buy, but how we live.
Category:
E-Commerce
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