By Ifesinachi Okoli-Okpagu
The day I started my job in Heirs Holdings, everyone seemed 10 feet tall.
Really.
There’s this strange feeling when you step into a new space and everyone is moving so fast, names fly past your ears like flies on a mission and people stride past you like giants straight out of a David & Goliath battlefield.
It’s the same feeling most of us get when starting out in a new place, or worse, if you are introverted like I am, then the feeling persists for much longer than it should.
So, how do you mingle? How do you join the Association of Cool Kids? How do you become part of a family where everyone knows your name?
Here are 4 ways to become ‘family’ in Heirs Holdings Group:
Become a Contest Ninja
We are always running contests to get people to bond. The idea of a contest may seem banal but trust me, people have built their reputation on being a part of one of our famous Group contests. Contest Ninjas like Somachi from TEF and Humphrey from Transcorp are becoming social butterflies.
There’s the psychology of repetition – the more you are visible, the more people know you. In fact, whenever I meet someone for the first time out of the blue, I usually would tell them it would take 3 meetings on the average for the faces and the names to stick as it should. It’s common psychology.
So, if you are looking to be part of something larger than the desk space you currently occupy, join a contest and kill it big time!
Join a Club
Book Clubs, travel clubs, health clubs, you name it. We’ve got it all (or about to, anyway).
We recently rolled out the Club networks within the group where people of like minds can share experiences and bond. It’s a small, intimate affair, nothing grandiose or serious, just more relaxing. In fact, let me whisper this into your ear…come closer…(for those of us interested in the book club, of which I am a part of, we will be hooking up on Whatsapp soon)…so there!
If you are interested in any other activity, feel free to send me an email and I will point you in the direction of your club guys.
When Invited, Say YES!
The last invitation we sent out was the trip to Wakanda and I was glad people turned up for it. It was super-duper-amazing, and I finally got to debut my gold top ?
If you are looking to be a part of the family, don’t shy away from invitations, grab them with both hands. Even if you can’t attend, just send an email acknowledging that you will try to make it like David Ajibola of Heirs Insurance Brokers.
Also, when you attend events, don’t disappear. Say hello to your colleagues.
Let me give you a trick: when at an event, if you are unsure of how to approach people, just get to the nearest person and pretend that person has a sticker on their foreheads that reads: Make me important!
If you are feeling less adventurous, send an email to Lola Obembe (lola.obembe@heirsholdings.com) or myself (Ifesinachi.okpagu@heirsholdings.com) asking who else will be at the event and any of us will be glad to hook you up with your Group colleagues.
Say hello on Social Media
Haba, do I need to repeat this one? A simple hello on social media will do. People like Edaha Williams of Transcorp Power and Jude Chiemeka of United Capital Plc are relating to our stories in a powerful way that ties us together.
One of the goals we work on reaching on social media is to showcase our wonderful culture to the world, and who best to tell our story than you, dear colleague?
Please go ahead and share content. Tag us, DM us, follow us.
The real stories are not those told from the company handles but those you share with your circle of friends on social media.
Who’s feeling lucky?
I have one more tip – become an internal auditor. By so doing, you visit the different companies, interact with people in all departments, add value to their processes and thus become their friends. Don’t mind me. Thanks for the tips.
So true! lol
So nice and I agree with this submission of yours which helps in bonding people at workplace!