Learning to Fly

Last week while travelling on a BA flight from Venice to London I picked up a copy of the BA in-flight magazine 'business life, where next?'. I often pick up the in-flight magazines for something to entertain me while I fly, but I usually finish reading them before the engines start. The business life magazine offered a fresher, more upbeat read and I found some interesting work related titbits.

Many a time I've sat on a bus or tube and prayed that people wouldn't speak to me. I would know I had a mountain of work to do, or that I just felt like staring aimlessly out of the window and enjoying a few free minutes to myself. Then it comes, that fateful 'hello, how are you?' to which I answer 'fine thanks', being careful not to ask the same question back through fear of being held in conversation. It speaks again; 'so, where are you headed?' Damn, people are looking, expecting me to engage; the perpetrator is not going to give up. I'm hooked in. So the conversation continues. At first I resent my precious time being stolen, then, from somewhere, I find I'm beginning to enjoy the chat; hell, I'm even smiling!

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It's my stop; it came around quickly. I get off the Tube, and bizarrely I feel some sense of fulfilment. I smiled and made someone else smile. It feels good.

BA's research showed that people in such situations, who had impromptu interactions with other, had more positive travel experiences than those that didn't. So, if interactions make us feel so good, why do we avoid them? Should we give ourselves that little push to be more social animals, even when we don't feel like it? And if we do, what could we gain from it?

As humans we often fear the unknown; it's part of human nature. We don't know if we will like the other person, or if they will like us! So it's easier to avoid at all costs. But are we missing out?

BA are currently testing a new kind of seat on their aircrafts; 'Priority seats - for people who want to talk business.' These seats allow passengers to opt to sit in seats next to other people who have requested communication between passengers. The idea behind it is that after a good chat, and potentially picking up a business contact or two, people will feel more positive about their journey.

What do you think?

business life is available to download free from the App store. I found it an interesting read, perhaps you will too.