It’s early. It’s quiet and calm—until suddenly it’s not. The hallway doors open, and a large, loud moving mass streams in steadily—and they’re coming my way. It’s the first morning of the tradeshow, and as the very definition of introverted, I’m steeling myself for a whole lot of uninterrupted human interaction for the next few long days. But with every customer and every conversation, I find myself slowly remembering how good and fun and important this is. Especially when I hear my name a few conversations over and turn to see someone I talk to on the phone at least once a week, face-to-face. And we’re both so excited.
Do you notice how when something is your norm, your comfort zone, you forget the value of going outside of it?
I’d guesstimate roughly 99% of my day to day work is done via email or over the phone. I don’t typically put too much thought into it, because, you know, it’s just what I do. In our sales environment, we’re pretty good at establishing great relationships this way. It’s a big part of why we’re great at what we do.
So, when given the opportunity to nurture these budding—and sometimes, basically full grown (outside ever seeing the person in real life)—relationships in the real world outside the vibrant and cozy walls of my cubicle, I veritably leap at the chance.
So, who doesn’t benefit from going outside the on-the-phone comfort zone? Well, no one, really.

• For me: The benefits are myriad. I get to meet customers I talk to all the time, but also show the ones who’ve never heard of where I work how great we are by making a memorable first impression in the flesh.
• For the customer: They can see you! They know you’re real, and they know you’re there to help in any way you possibly can. Knowing that person you talk to on the phone is a real person? Oddly comforting.
• For my workplace as a whole: The company gets to have passionate and dedicated delegates who go out and show the whole wide world (okay, maybe just the transmission world) how awesome working together can be.

I’ve notoriously made my cubicle homey, comfy and cozy. Things are (almost always, unless a sneaky coworker has moved things around when I go to lunch) where I arrange them with slightly messy care.  I often hesitate to leave it, to do something new, something where there are so many unknowns and a distinct lack of my tried and true routine. But when I do, I remember why it’s important to step outside the box every so often – and I’m a better employee, and person, because of it.
 

The Reman Runner’s cubicle is homey, comfy, & cozy – it’s her work home. But that doesn’t stop her from flying out for the face-to-face contact that comes from a trip out of town – and her comfort zone – to make connections with her customers. What great things happen when you leave your cubicle? Comment below or reach out to Rani directly.