I was at the ophthalmologist the other day, waiting for the elevator to take me up to the 9th floor.

As I stood there, I looked to my left and there was a woman about my height. I’m 6 foot 1. That doesn’t happen very often!

She was wearing heels (but not THAT high), and I was wearing my flat comfy Birkenstocks.

We were both silently aware of each other, sort of pretending not to notice (we can all relate to those moments). But once we stepped into the elevator, towering above everyone else, it became impossible to ignore.

I remember learning in sociology class that five random people aren’t a group until they experience something together.

That moment in the elevator we became a group.

Someone (of course) commented on our height. We all laughed. Then the two of us started sharing tall-woman stories.

I asked about her background. She is part Indigenous, and apparently there’s a tall indigenous gene that her family got. I told her that although my roots are British/South African, the height likely comes from Holland.

Then I shared that when I first went to Amsterdam, I walked off the plane, looked around, and for the first time in my life I felt like I belonged. Everyone looked like me. We shared more stories.

There’s something so powerful about connection and belonging.

About finding common ground. A shared humanity. And often this happens in the most unexpected places. And it doesn’t require years of shared history or context.

If you’re looking for ways that your teams and departments can create spaces where people fully see one another. Bridge difference, find shared humanity, and rediscover that sense of belonging that fuels trust, creativity, and real collaboration – why don’t you reach out.

It’s in these magical spaces where transformation begins – and we love to unlock this magic.