Neuroscience is teaching us that physical contact, when done appropriately, benefits individuals and teams. “Friendly touching serves as social glue that binds people in the workplace and in the community. It engenders feelings of trust and cooperation. It makes coworkers have more team spirit and more empathy for each other,” according to David J. Linden, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Neurophysiology. A 2009 study of NBA teams provided enough compelling insights to warrant moving research to the workplace, with convincing results. All people and all cultures are not equal when it comes to touching, no matter how kindly. Physical contact advocates especially bemoan the litigious hotbeds that US companies have become in order to crack down on sexual harassment. A simple handshake is a great step in the right direction.
Touch among colleagues can lead to greater trust and productivity
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