Episode 157

TSW Short: The Surprising Reason Why You Should Reach Out to an Old Friend

Published on: 9th August, 2023

A recent study has found that people constantly underestimate how much others appreciate it when someone in their social circle unexpectedly reaches out to them. The study also found that the more surprising the reach out is, meaning the longer it has been between connections, the more people appreciate it.

Listen in for further findings from this surprising study.



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The Surprise of Reaching Out Study


Transcript
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I've been thinking about you.

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It's five words.

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I tell every audience member of mine to use, to reconnect with the people

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in their lives that they have fallen out of touch with for whatever reason.

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I love these five words and the power.

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They have to reconnect people.

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Welcome to episode 1 57 of the shit works, a podcast dedicated to all

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things, networking, relationship building and business development.

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I'm your host, Julie Brown.

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Speaker author and networking coach.

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And today I am discussing why studies say that you should

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unexpectedly reach out to old friends.

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As a listener of this podcast.

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You know, I love nothing more than a good study.

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I love digging into the data that supports the tips and teachings I have regarding

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networking and relationship building.

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And today I'm excited to tell you about the findings of a recent study

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conducted by Peggy, Louie, Sonia and rim Lauren men and Kate II men

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published in the journal of personality and social psychology and discussed

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in an article by psych news daily.

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In a nutshell, the study finds that people constantly underestimate

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how much others appreciate it.

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When someone in their social circle unexpectedly reaches out to them.

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The actual term in the article they use is a robust

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understatement of the appreciation.

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The study also found that the more surprising the reach out is

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the more people appreciate it.

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This is the part that really excited me because initiating

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contact and reaching out.

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To someone after a, you know, a prolonged period of disconnect

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can be super intimidating and this can cause anxiety and fear.

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Which oftentimes, unfortunately it causes the person to simply

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not reach out at a hall.

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But this study found one interesting variable that affected how much

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a person appreciated a reach out.

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Namely how surprising the contact was.

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They found that people receiving the communication placed greater emphasis

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on the surprise element and this heightened focus on surprise was intern

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associated with higher appreciation.

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So it doesn't matter how long it's been.

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Maybe it's better that it's been so long because the surprise element is so much

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higher and therefore the appreciation.

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For the reach out is so much greater.

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I, I can't tell you how happy these findings make me.

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I can't wait to tell every audience member that not only do those five

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words work, but they are scientifically proven to make people happy.

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No matter how long it has been since you last talked.

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There is a lot in this article.

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So I'm going to put a link to the article and the full study.

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In the show notes.

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And because this is the shit work short episode.

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There isn't a drink of the week.

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So just pour yourself a beer or a glass of wine or a cocktail

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or a seltzer or a mocktail, and just reach out to someone today.

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I guarantee it will make them happy.

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All right, friends.

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That's all for this week.

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If you like what you heard today, please leave a review

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and subscribe to the podcast.

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Also.

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Please remember to share the podcast to help it reach a larger audience.

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And if you want more, Julie Brown, you can find my book.

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This shit works on Amazon or Barnes and noble.

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You can find me on LinkedIn, actually brown BD, just, you know,

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let me know where you found me, where you, when you reach out.

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And I am Julie Brown underscore BD on the Instagram, or you

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can pop on over to my website.

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Julie Brown bd.com for last more information until next week.

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About the Podcast

This Shit Works
The people you meet can 100% Change Your Life! Networking is how you meet those people. Which sucks because you hate networking, you think you're bad at networking, and you certainly don’t have time to network. Bullshit! Welcome to This Shit Works, a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur, CEO, public speaker, author, business development strategist and networking coach Julie Brown. Just don’t call her Downtown Julie Brown - she doesn’t like that.

Each week Julie will bring to you her no nonsense tips, tricks and conversations around networking your way to more friends, more adventures and way more success!
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