Neuroscience is teaching us that physical contact, when done appropriately, benefits individuals and teams. “Friendly touching serves as social glue that binds people in the workplace and in the community. It engenders feelings of trust and cooperation. It makes coworkers have more team spirit and more empathy for each other,” according to David J. Linden, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Neurophysiology. A 2009 study of NBA teams provided enough compelling insights to warrant moving research to the workplace, with convincing results. All people and all cultures are not equal when it comes to touching, no matter how kindly. Physical contact advocates especially bemoan the litigious hotbeds that US companies have become in order to crack down on sexual harassment. A simple handshake is a great step in the right direction.
Touch among colleagues can lead to greater trust and productivity
More of Today's Solutions
The Great Bubble Barrier: bubble curtains are intercepting 86 percent of rive...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Rivers are how plastic gets to the ocean. Stop it there, and you stop it for good. The ...
Read MoreIndia connects 124 million rural homes to tap water
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Six years ago, fewer than one in six rural homes in India had a tap water connection. As ...
Read MoreThe biodegradable, self-cleaning fabric made from living caterpillar fungus
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The sustainable fashion industry has spent years trying to reduce harm: less water, fewer synthetic chemicals, more recycled ...
Read More7 plants with super air-purifying powers
Houseplants are all great natural indoor air purifiers, but some are especially effective for improving indoor air quality. Here are seven houseplant varieties that ...
Read More
