I consider myself an introvert and I have worked really hard at coming out of my shell. It has been one of the main things dancing has helped me with. Dancing showed me to put myself out there. Be more social, be uncomfortable.

In work environments I was always very clear cut. This is how much of me you get. Always professional. You don't know my hobbies because hobbies are not work related.

However after dancing I realized something. Connecting with people requires vulnerability. Requires openness and that's how trust started to form in my team. I think we are a pretty good team and work well together.

I have also noticed I can get tunnel vision for my team so I have decided that my new mindset is just to adopt people into the fold because if I see it that way it becomes easier to connect and bring them in and not let my natural walls take over and it's so important especially when working across teams. Connecting with people just makes it so much easier to be friends and to just be human to others and really connect and just be friendly you know. It makes the workplace worth it to have that connection with them and it doesn't even have to be friendship. Just cordial but at least have a connection where you can trust one another because that's what work requires.

Trust in that you can complete the work and that they can give good requirements, good timelines and that they will do the work and that only happens when trust is built and the best way to go about it is to be open with one another. So what is one shift you can make to connect with your team or across teams?

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