Years ago I read a book that still impacts my life today. “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazi and Tahl Faz centers around two of my favorite things – people and food! And ever since reading it, I’ve tried to stick to this principle of always sharing a meal with someone.
For me, this goes beyond having a meal together. It’s about the human connection and the opportunity to build a relationship. In our ever-evolving world, where we rely so much on electronic means of communication, we sometimes forget that at the end of the day, we are still doing business with people. And as humans, we crave that interaction.
There is so much more that you can pick up from a face-to-face engagement, rather than communicating via phone or email. According to a recent Harvard study, 93% of communication is nonverbal – staggering! Being in front of someone allows you to understand, learn and engage at a much deeper level vs. an electronic communication.
But I know what you’re thinking…never eating alone could get expensive! These meals also don’t have cost a fortune. It can be as simple as inviting someone to lunch in your company’s cafeteria. Or even grabbing an afternoon coffee and pastry with that person you’ve been meaning to get to know better.
This also doesn’t just apply to your business interactions – ask your significant other, your sibling, your parents, your best friend out for a meal. Breaking bread with someone is a great way to strengthen and nurture relationships whether in a business or personal setting.
And if all of this isn’t enough, some studies show people of all ages tend to eat healthier when they share a meal with others.
If you have a little time on your hands, read this book. And then when can we schedule a meal?
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This article was originally published in Fleet Management Weekly.