1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to thoughtfully welcome newcomers to the places 4 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: you care about, so the newcomers will keep coming back 5 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: and become regulars. So I recently heard about several first 6 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: timers experience at a jazzer size class, and it got 7 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,279 Speaker 1: me thinking about welcoming newcomers in all sorts of places. 8 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: The employee who registered the new Jazzer size students greeted 9 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: them and introduced them to the teacher. Other students said 10 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: hello before class. When class began, the teacher introduced the 11 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: newcomers by name, and the other students cheered. Midway through class, 12 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: the teacher addressed the newbies by name again and said 13 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: how well they were doing, and at the end of 14 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:06,119 Speaker 1: class she called him out by name. At the end 15 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: of class, she called them out by name a third time, 16 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: thank them for coming, and said she hoped they'd come back. 17 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: Even if they hadn't been thinking about returning before, they 18 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 1: now felt like they were part of the community. Everybody 19 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: knew their names. They wanted to come back, and so 20 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: they did. When you give an enthusiastic and authentic welcome. 21 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: You let newcomers know that you see them, you value 22 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: their presence. This tends to me in saying hello and 23 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: making yourself available for questions and assistance. As they get oriented, 24 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: you can help them find their ways somewhere they wanted 25 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: to visit but may feel a little uncomfortable being in 26 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: for the first time. If you welcome people warmly and intentionally, 27 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: letting them know what they need to in order to 28 00:01:55,480 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: participate fully, you may add to your ongoing numbers. Now 29 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: you may be thinking that you are not a jazzercise 30 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 1: instructor aerobics teacher. Enthusiasm is not your style. Trust me, 31 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 1: it isn't mine either, But let's not let ourselves off 32 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 1: the hook so easily. Are you a teacher or college 33 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: professor who gets new students every semester. Are you a 34 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: medical professional who has new patients visit your office. Do 35 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: you work at a restaurant or a retail shop. Do 36 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: you participate in a house of worship or community organization 37 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: that hopes to grow? Are you a regular at a 38 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: gym or a coffee shop that prides itself on its 39 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: friendly vibe. It is hard to imagine anyone who isn't 40 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: sometimes in a position to be hospitable and welcoming to newcomers. 41 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 1: We just need to notice those moments when our attention 42 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: towards someone else will be appreciated. So if you are 43 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: a leader or a long timer in an organization or 44 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: group that wants to grow, think about what it is 45 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: like to be a newcomer. What can newcomers learn about 46 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: you from your website or social media presence. What's the 47 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: signage like when they arrive at your physical space? Will 48 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:21,679 Speaker 1: they be greeted when they arrive? Are there any unspoken 49 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: rules or facts they need to know We are to 50 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: leave their bag before yoga class, or the punch code 51 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:31,239 Speaker 1: to open the restroom door, or where to find smocks 52 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: before having their hair colored. You could even ask a 53 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: recent newcomer whether there was anything that was especially welcoming 54 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 1: and helpful on their first few visits, and whether there 55 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: was anything confusing or off putting that could be addressed. 56 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: As the pandemic restrictions are easing up, many people are 57 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: visiting new places for the first time. When we put 58 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: ourselves into the shoes of newcomers and design the newcomer 59 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: experience to be more welcoming. We can surely make their 60 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: visits more comfortable, and we may be able to convert 61 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: first time visitors to becoming part of the community. Then they, 62 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: in turn, we'll be welcoming other newcomers for years to come. 63 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and 64 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, 65 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear from you. You can send me 66 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with 67 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast pod 68 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: that's B the number four, then Breakfast p o D. 69 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast 70 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: podcast at iHeart media dot com that Before Breakfast is 71 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: spelled out with all the letters they so much should. 72 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:08,720 Speaker 1: I look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is 73 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: a production of I heart Radio. For more podcasts from 74 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 1: I heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 75 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.