Episode 157
TSW Short: The Surprising Reason Why You Should Reach Out to an Old Friend
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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Julie Brown:
Research
The Surprise of Reaching Out Study
Transcript
I've been thinking about you.
Speaker:It's five words.
Speaker:I tell every audience member of mine to use, to reconnect with the people
Speaker:in their lives that they have fallen out of touch with for whatever reason.
Speaker:I love these five words and the power.
Speaker:They have to reconnect people.
Speaker:Welcome to episode 1 57 of the shit works, a podcast dedicated to all
Speaker:things, networking, relationship building and business development.
Speaker:I'm your host, Julie Brown.
Speaker:Speaker author and networking coach.
Speaker:And today I am discussing why studies say that you should
Speaker:unexpectedly reach out to old friends.
Speaker:As a listener of this podcast.
Speaker:You know, I love nothing more than a good study.
Speaker:I love digging into the data that supports the tips and teachings I have regarding
Speaker:networking and relationship building.
Speaker:And today I'm excited to tell you about the findings of a recent study
Speaker:conducted by Peggy, Louie, Sonia and rim Lauren men and Kate II men
Speaker:published in the journal of personality and social psychology and discussed
Speaker:in an article by psych news daily.
Speaker:In a nutshell, the study finds that people constantly underestimate
Speaker:how much others appreciate it.
Speaker:When someone in their social circle unexpectedly reaches out to them.
Speaker:The actual term in the article they use is a robust
Speaker:understatement of the appreciation.
Speaker:The study also found that the more surprising the reach out is
Speaker:the more people appreciate it.
Speaker:This is the part that really excited me because initiating
Speaker:contact and reaching out.
Speaker:To someone after a, you know, a prolonged period of disconnect
Speaker:can be super intimidating and this can cause anxiety and fear.
Speaker:Which oftentimes, unfortunately it causes the person to simply
Speaker:not reach out at a hall.
Speaker:But this study found one interesting variable that affected how much
Speaker:a person appreciated a reach out.
Speaker:Namely how surprising the contact was.
Speaker:They found that people receiving the communication placed greater emphasis
Speaker:on the surprise element and this heightened focus on surprise was intern
Speaker:associated with higher appreciation.
Speaker:So it doesn't matter how long it's been.
Speaker:Maybe it's better that it's been so long because the surprise element is so much
Speaker:higher and therefore the appreciation.
Speaker:For the reach out is so much greater.
Speaker:I, I can't tell you how happy these findings make me.
Speaker:I can't wait to tell every audience member that not only do those five
Speaker:words work, but they are scientifically proven to make people happy.
Speaker:No matter how long it has been since you last talked.
Speaker:There is a lot in this article.
Speaker:So I'm going to put a link to the article and the full study.
Speaker:In the show notes.
Speaker:And because this is the shit work short episode.
Speaker:There isn't a drink of the week.
Speaker:So just pour yourself a beer or a glass of wine or a cocktail
Speaker:or a seltzer or a mocktail, and just reach out to someone today.
Speaker:I guarantee it will make them happy.
Speaker:All right, friends.
Speaker:That's all for this week.
Speaker:If you like what you heard today, please leave a review
Speaker:and subscribe to the podcast.
Speaker:Also.
Speaker:Please remember to share the podcast to help it reach a larger audience.
Speaker:And if you want more, Julie Brown, you can find my book.
Speaker:This shit works on Amazon or Barnes and noble.
Speaker:You can find me on LinkedIn, actually brown BD, just, you know,
Speaker:let me know where you found me, where you, when you reach out.
Speaker:And I am Julie Brown underscore BD on the Instagram, or you
Speaker:can pop on over to my website.
Speaker:Julie Brown bd.com for last more information until next week.