How Do You Welcome People?

How well do you welcome people?

Think about your own experiences:

How were you welcomed on your first day at a new job?

How does your company onboard new team members?

How do you greet friends and family when they visit your home?

And when a new face joins your group at a bar or gathering, how does that interaction unfold?

One of the most heartwarming examples of a "welcome" I’ve ever seen happens every year at Viterbo University.

When freshmen arrive on campus, the entire community comes together to ensure their first experience is warm and welcoming. 

Hundreds of volunteers—ranging from current students and alumni to faculty and staff—help carry boxes, refrigerators, and bags from the car all the way to the dorm rooms.

Even the President of the University joins in, putting on a t-shirt and getting to work carrying boxes alongside everyone else. Now that's leadership! 

This level of intentional, thoughtful hospitality doesn’t just make a great first impression—it sets the tone for what’s to come.

It takes effort. 

It takes thoughtfulness. 

It takes courage to lean into some of the awkwardness. 

But it makes all the difference.

Who in your life or organization is making an effort to welcome others well?

And how well are you welcoming others? 

Week 42 of 52