The Business Romantic

The Business Romantic shows how doing business that is focused on passion and connection leads to more success in today’s world.

Picture this. You’re sitting in the office lunchroom after enjoying a nice birthday cake for a coworkers birthday. Suddenly, the boss walks in and tells everyone it’s time to get back to work. Although they may not do it in a mean way, their comment sort of deflates the fun atmosphere, right?

I had this experience not long ago, and it wasn’t fun. Looking back at that job, I could see that the company was more concerned with metrics than people. I heard countless coworkers of mine saying how afraid they were of the managers seeing them talking with one another. I’m glad I got out of there!

Most companies prioritize tasks over chatting, but is this the right approach? Science says your boss might be wrong to keep you from talking too much in the office. One study discovered that happiness at work similar to happiness experienced outside the workplace only comes from informal conversations with coworkers.

We know from The Happiness Advantage that happiness leads to success and not the other way around. Casual conversations, then, as the highest source of in-office happiness, are a catalyst for success.

Forget worrying about continuing that interesting conversation you’re having with a coworker. Keeping up office comradery just might be what’s keeping you productive.

What better way to connect with someone than to give them gifts? After all, it is one of The 5 Love Languages! Although this may seem like an odd idea, remember that gift-giving is a deeply human experience. It leaves both the giver and receiver feeling happy and connected. It’s a vital component of romantic business. If you’re still skeptical of the merits of gift-giving in the office, look to Adam Grant’s Give and Take. Grant affirms that benevolence at work boosts employee motivation. Building a culture of giving enhances innovation, collaboration, and quality. So how can you apply this idea in the workplace? Provide employees with the opportunity to give to one another as part of their tasks. It may take some creativity, but it will do wonders for your workplace culture and happiness. Danish chocolatier Anthon Berg is one great example of creative gift-giving in a business setting. A pop-up store in Copenhagen asked customers to pay for their sweets with a promise to do a good deed for another person. Another source to look for inspiration on the subject is Reddit. In the Random Acts of Pizza subreddit, Redditors buy pizza for each other based on funny, creative, or entertaining requests. The result is that using and working for Reddit is even more…