Close your eyes and go back to the last time you took an elevator. How many of the strangers around you spoke? None, right? Did you all look at your phones and avoid eye contact and touching at all? Probably. That’s usually the case, and it works just fine.
This morning, I walked into my building and caught one of the 10 elevators in our new building as usual, to go up to the 20th floor. With so many elevators and so many floors, there is always a greeter helping people get the next elevator in the mass chaos of dings and ups and downs. Today, he ran up and put his hand to stop the door from closing, saying “Good morning, hold on, thank you!” as he made sure another woman could catch our elevator.
“Good morning!” this woman said brightly to me and the other man in the elevator, much to my surprise.
I have no idea who she is, and am likely to never meet her again. But this woman I didn’t know warmly wished me good morning. And it was a much better start to my day than an elevator ride pretending not to notice everyone else standing in a small box with me.
I couldn’t help but remember one of the newer Dance Floor Theory tips:
Change the bus driver’s attitude, change the whole bus’ attitude.
Since the greeter (metaphorical bus driver) put in extra effort to help that woman and say good morning to everyone who enters, she was inspired to pass on the good vibes to those of us already in the elevator (the bus). It may sound cliché, but kindness really is contagious. And for once, the elevator felt like a welcoming space within our building’s community.
Want to build up the good vibes and great attitude in your community on campus? Think about these questions:
- Who is in a “bus driver position” at your campus who might need a pick-me-up so they can help change the attitude of the whole community?
- Examples: shuttle drivers, cafeteria workers, leadership office secretary, professors, etc etc
- Are YOU in a “bus driver position?”
- How is your attitude effecting the rest of your bus?
- What spaces on campus need a little more sunshine?
- Who can be an influencer (bus driver) for lifting the mood?
We often think of community building as huge events and fireworks. But the most impact comes from the tiny, mundane, every day moments – that’s where engagement is least expected and most appreciated.
Your challenge: Say hello or smile to the next person you ride an elevator with. 🙂
