Southern Hospitality at Work

In the pursuit of my multi-year goal to run a half marathon in all 50 states, I took Mississippi and Alabama off the list last weekend. The entire time, I was blown away by people’s friendliness and willingness to interact so openly with me, a complete stranger. I have found the stereotype of Southern hospitality to be an understatement, if anything. People were overwhelmingly welcoming. Simple proximity yielded unplanned pleasant conversations. It left me feeling that warmth, manners, and caring shouldn’t be pushed out of the modern workplace. There is space for both business and big-heartedness to coexist. We are humans first, professionals second. At work, we don’t need to be best friends, but we should seek and see human-being beyond the job function. Caring and courtesy have their place in every business.

A healthy dose of Southern hospitality helped reshape my view on connecting with others. I typically will not initiate conversations. I am the type of person who enjoys riding in an elevator without engaging in conversation with other passengers and who loves drinking my coffee uninterrupted. However, in one weekend, I have changed my stance on small talk. Now, I see it as a way to show caring, which is the gateway to more meaningful conversations and connections. Small talk can actually lend itself to unexpected insights, or at the very least, just some feel-good moments. Casual, seemingly meaningless, interactions can create a sense of connection and belonging.

In the professional world, we have been conditioned to initiate conversation and connect if we see some benefit. It is such a game-changer to connect in order to create a genuinely warm exchange with other humans, to take a minute to listen, share, and to learn. In a world that values competitive advantage, where businesses and individuals strive to outperform others, I feel we cannot minimize the power of caring for one another.

Even when businesses prioritize the “bottom line”, it is up to the people to create a workplace culture that’s conducive to well-being, one that promotes a connection to the shared corporate purpose and to each other. We certainly need more Southern hospitality at work: more welcoming, courtesy, friendliness, kindness, and helpfulness towards colleagues.

Ways to apply key aspects of "Southern Hospitality" in the workplace:

Welcoming:

Creating a sense of belonging. It entails actively promoting inclusion.

It starts with a warm greeting: a hearty "hello" and a welcoming smile can set a positive tone.

Courtesy:

Practicing respect and consideration of others. It entails using polite language.

It starts with recognizing the intrinsic worth of human dignity, that we are all created equal.

Friendliness:

Showing genuine interest in others. It entails relating to people without hostility.

It starts with assuming positive intent, that a person’s actions or words were meant with good intentions.

Kindness:

Fostering a supportive work environment. It entails practicing empathy.

It starts with putting oneself in someone else's shoes trying to understand their experiences, feelings, and perspective.

Helpfulness:

Offering assistance and support. It entails a genuine intent to make things better.

It starts with seeking to understand how to provide support in a way that addresses the person’s specific needs.

Southern hospitality takes time. It means making room to positively connect and interact with others. We are inherently social creatures who thrive in connection. It feels good to be a part of a community, having a sense of belonging.

What is at the center of your heart? What are ways you can apply the principles of Southern hospitality to create better connections at work?