Connection with someone takes more than common interests of What Makes People Click. It also takes this.
Do you know who created the world’s first social network? It wasn’t Zuckerberg, Dorsey, or Tom from MySpace.
It was the person who kindled the first fire. The fire’s loud crackling, billowing smoke, and beautiful orange glow attracted others in the village towards it. Soon everyone was gathered around basking in the warmth of the flames.
The discovery of fire changed everything. Fire became a cornerstone of human survival. It was instrumental in protecting the village from predators, cooking food, and providing light in the dark. And it transformed how people connected. The light from a fire extended the day giving humans more time to connect, providing warmth that wondrously enabled relationships to deepen like never before. People clicked over the flick of flames.
A recent study of the Ju/’hoan hunter-gatherers of the southern African countries of Namibia and Botswana found major differences between firelit talk and non-firelit talk to What Makes People Click. When the Ju/’hoan weren’t around a fire, their conversations centered on “practicalities and sanctioning gossip.” Firelit conversations, however, “evoked the imagination, helped people remember and understand others in their external networks, healed rifts of the day, and conveyed information about cultural institutions that generate regularity of behavior and corresponding trust.”
Fireside conversations put people on the same emotional wavelength, elicited understanding, and elevated trust and empathy, ultimately strengthening people’s social networks. It was also common for the Ju/’hoan to sing while sitting around a fire. To this day, the comfort and security we feel when we sit by an open fire can be traced to our ancient ancestors who utilized fire as a social and survival essential.
Fire then, and still today, cultivated so much connection between people because it created a shared reality. Individuals were jointly experiencing something beyond themselves in real time and What Makes People Click.
According to Columbia University psychologist Maya Rossignac-Milon, the theory of shared reality suggests that we are most likely to feel closer to each other when we turn our mutual attention to something beyond ourselves and What Makes People Click. That’s exactly what happened to the Ju/’hoan. No fire (or shared reality) and their conversations were superficial. With fire (or a shared reality) and conversation elevated, causing connections to thrive.
Shared reality is the third party in any social connection. And it matters. It’s not enough to have common interests with a friend or colleague but to share experiences together.
According to Paul Eastwick, a professor of psychology at the University of California at Davis who studies close relationships, “[Shared reality] serves as a reminder that similarity is often a thing that two people create or discover together in the moment. It wasn’t ‘there’ on paper before the interaction took place.” Often our urge is to connect with people who are similar to us, but shared reality theory suggests we may not know what those similarities are until we meet the other person. It’s not so much about with whom we are talking but what we are talking about.
Have you ever been on a delayed flight while on the runway and noticed how chatty some passengers become with complete strangers? The reason for the instant connections is a shared reality. The delayed flight becomes the new reality that every passenger shares. A shared reality serves as a triangulation point between two individuals that knits them closer together.
Additionally, spaces like museums or art galleries provide the material you need to create a shared reality with another person. What Makes People Click shared reality pushes conversations to be about the world around us rather than ourselves.
Strengthen Pairing Through Reality Sharing
With this understanding of shared reality, it’s clear how technology can break our social connections. If while at an art gallery, instead of consuming the same piece of art, someone is on their phone, the reality isn’t shared. While you may be sharing the same space, the full reality isn’t shared, thus hindering the potential for a connection.
Remote work environments (video calls, Slack channels, asynchronous collaboration tools, etc.) can also have a detrimental effect on people’s ability to construct shared realities. By definition, these virtual environments strip out the external world and severely limit shared realities from occurring.
If your goal is to strengthen team connections, get out of the office. Share a new reality. For in-person teams, get together out of the office. For remote or hybrid teams, get together out of your office and find What Makes People Click.
Getting out of the office enables colleagues to make sense of a new environment together, cementing relationships in the process. Whether it’s monthly, quarterly, or annually, make shared realities a priority because social connection is imperative to the health and performance of any team or community.
Want help creating a more connected, human-centered team with What Makes People Click? Contact Ryan to explore working together here.
What Makes People Click Article published by Ryan Jenkins on LinkedIn
Contact us at Speakers Inc and view WeSpeak Global
With all the recent fervor over the confrontation between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars® over a comment made about Jada Pinkett Smith, there’s one character I have yet to Change Your Perspective, Improve Your Response to see explored in the aftermath: G.I. Jane. Several years ago, when I was building my business […]
Elizabeth McCormick’s journey to becoming a renowned speaker is rooted in her remarkable career in the military. As a Black Hawk Helicopter Pilot, she faced challenges and triumphs that shaped her into the inspiring leader she is today. Rising through the ranks to become Chief Warrant Officer 2, Elizabeth honed her skills in leadership, resilience, […]
In the bustling world of sales, where targets and quotas often overshadow human connection, Elyse Archer stands out as a beacon of Transforming Sales through Authenticity. Based in Charlotte, NC, Elyse is not just a sales speaker; she is a transformative force who is reshaping how sales professionals approach their craft. With a compelling blend […]
Elyse Archer: The Sales Speaker Rewriting the Rules of Success In the ever-evolving landscape of sales, where trust, authenticity, and personal branding have become non-negotiables, event planners are constantly seeking voices that cut through the noise. Enter Elyse Archer—a globally recognized speaker whose magnetic stage presence and actionable strategies are redefining what it means to […]
The Ultimate Guide to Speaker Bookings in the West End Entertainment in Los Angeles Introduction: Los Angeles, a city renowned for its glitz and glamour, is not only the entertainment capital of the world but also a hub for West End Entertainment in Los Angeles-style performances that captivate audiences with their mesmerizing productions. In this […]
Wildlife motivational speakers are unique in the world of keynote speakers. They draw from the wonders of nature and their experiences in the wild to inspire and motivate audiences. These speakers often possess backgrounds as conservationists, wildlife experts, adventurers, and environmentalists. Their messages are not only about protecting the planet but also about leadership, resilience, […]
Something about the past seems much more romantic than the future so Are you more attracted to the PAST or the FUTURE?. Maybe it’s because the past is a time we can look back on with nostalgia, or perhaps it’s because the future is an unknown quantity. Whatever the reason, it seems like many people […]
Mastering Success: The Art of Business Strategy Speakers In the high-stakes world of modern business, success doesn’t happen by chance, it’s the result of clear strategy, innovation, and relentless execution. At the center of this movement are business strategy speakers: thought leaders who don’t just talk about transformation, but drive it. What Makes a Business […]
No results available
Our Mission:
© All rights reserved 2025. Designed using Voxel