Mirroring other people’s emotions, behaviors and attitudes is common in our interactions. It works if one side offers a generous gesture and consideration first, then the response often mirrors that.
But it is also one of the reasons why conversations go off the rails and distrust grows leading to disconnection. When someone had a bad day and showed up in Zoom, their emotions and body language caused speculations on the receiving end, then snowballed into a total disconnection.
What's challenging about identifying the mirroring effect is that it often happens without us being aware of it.
Creating an environment and culture where kindness and trust are the norm, we have a much higher chance to share and address personal challenges while remaining connected.
