We look for warmth in every person we meet. From the moment we lay eyes on a stranger, we search for signs of friend or foe. But warmth is about far more than first impressions. It’s the critical lubricant for our social interactions that makes cooperation and trust possible. So what is it?
Warmth is more than smiling or being nice to others. It is the feeling you get when you recognize shared interests and concerns, or when you sense you are on the same team as someone else. Depending on the context and the culture, there are lots of different ways that people express warmth.
This is particularly true in professional settings. Renu Rayasam of the BBC interviewed KNP Managing Partner Matt Kohut for this piece about warmth in the workplace.