Blog

The snowball effect: how everyday interactions build big outcomes

27 Jul. 2026

By Julie Graham, CEO Ingeus Employment Services.  
 
Heading to an Ingeus centre, as I genuinely like to do, you’ll rarely see me cocooned in a private room. I much prefer to be in amongst the team, at the heart of the action, picking up on conversations, giving my input, and generally passing the time of day with colleagues I perhaps haven’t met before.  
 
If a meeting room does beckon, that lull before everyone gets settled is a great time for a casual conversation, from discussing the weekend and the weather, to travel congestion and football. I really enjoy those personal interactions; it’s amazing what you can learn when you’re not busy monitoring an online meeting lobby or battling a misbehaving microphone. 
 
It’s also a simple truth, and one we see every day working with jobseekers on our programmes, that connections made through everyday interactions often unlock valuable doors. It’s also a belief I’ve built my working life on. Moving to the UK from Australia in 2021, I left behind an established and wide-ranging network of connections. It was daunting to start again but something I was glad to give time to – and still do. 
 
So what are everyday interactions and why are they important? 
When we think about building relationships at work, it’s easy to get absorbed into a world of networking sites, events, forums, meetings, and conferences.  
 
These certainly hold value but, as the name suggests, everyday interactions are the much simpler verbal and non-verbal ways we communicate. They encompass our body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions; the remote calls, posts, and comments we make; our efforts to interact, share, and listen. All seemingly small things in isolation but combined, they are a mighty force in building trusted relationships. 
 
That’s because these positive interactions foster a sense of connection and belonging. They create a level of comfort where people are empowered to ask questions and put forward suggestions and opinions. Again we see it every day with jobseekers: breaking down isolation is where learning and growth kick in.  
 
Getting to know people, what they’re interested in and working toward, can lead in all sorts of unexpected directions – and it doesn’t have to be all work and no play. I have an ever-growing list of the UK’s best places to visit, largely recommended through chance mentions from colleagues, while a friendly chat with Ian, an amateur radio enthusiast working in our Manchester team, gave breath to our annual all-team Christmas shout-out show since.   
 
How to build positive interactions 
So far, this may sound largely common sense – smile, be friendly, join in. There are however some other tactical tips on how to prompt and nurture your everyday interactions at work:  
 
Give time and encouragement to others  
•    Embrace small talk, be politely inquisitive. 
•    Ask open-ended questions, invite suggestions. 
•    Acknowledge small wins or a job well done. 
•    Allow time for people even in a busy schedule. For me that could be an employment advisor saying an unprompted hello, sharing my experience at Ingeus leader training, or contributing to industry bodies like ERSA and the IEP. 
•    Facilitate connections for others. Bring the right people together for the task at hand, even if you’re not one of them. A lot of great partnerships are built this way and the favour may one day be reciprocated.  

Make yourself accessible  
•    Meet people in person when possible. 
•    Add an extra coffee stop to connect with someone if you’re in their particular part of the country. 
•    Travel with colleagues to meetings or arrange a pre-meeting before the main event. 
•    Have your camera on for video calls if you can. 
•    Sit with people you don’t know in meetings and at events. 
•    Share observations and points of interest: feedback to your teams or online. One of our Engagement Officers is currently running online posts entitled ‘Where’s Ed?’ – sharing his days’ visits and tagging contacts he meets – super idea Ed! 

Follow-up 
•    Follow-up new encounters with an email or online invitation to connect. 
•    As relationships form, post photos, tag contacts, and write case studies of successful coworking. 
 
My father often quoted the old adage that ‘mighty oaks from little acorns grow’ and it’s particularly pertinent here. All sorts of different conversations can flow from these simple steps. From learning new things, collaborating on a project, or progressing in your career, to merely identifying a joint interest or hobby these small interactions can have unexpectedly positive outcomes.    


Julie Graham FIEP is Chief Executive Officer of Employment Services. She brings extensive executive experience across the non profit and social impact sectors, with a career dedicated to improving lives and delivering meaningful employment outcomes. Julie has a strong track record in organisational leadership, performance, and large scale service delivery, supported by expertise in HR and customer centred design. A Deakin University graduate, she combines strategic insight with operational excellence. She also serves on the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) board, helping advance sector standards and best practice.