If you are an artist, consultant, sole proprietor you may be missing out on the value of feeling a part of a team.  One of the advantages of larger companies (and one I hear most often that is missed by ex-employees) is the daily socializing with co-workers and team mates.  A recent article on the Gallup Management Journal – “The Business of Good Friends” talks about the five essentials for personal well-being, one of which is “Social Wellbeing” which includes 5 to 6 hours a day of socializing.  This happens most frequently as socializing with co-workers.

But what if you are one of the aforementioned lone or small business?  How do you manage to attend to your Social Wellbeing then?

Extend your concept of team.

For example: the postal employee that delivers your daily mail – make a point of introducing yourself and saying “hi”; do the same at the library or the office supply shop.  Get to know your “extended team mates”, they contribute to your success, don’t they?

Plus, the socializing helps to spread the word about your small business – you can get practice in, explaining what you do and getting additional “word of mouth” exposure.

Let me know how this works for you (yes, emails and chatting count as socializing).