Reply directly to people in emails and instant messages

Being cc’ed on an email or invited to an instant message group is a new opportunity for you to look at who’s in the “room”—and introduce yourself.

• Reply directly to the message sender with a compliment.
• Identify someone with a shared background to you and tell them, “I couldn’t help but notice you’re also ____,” followed by an offer to chat or at least look out for each other. 
• Wish that departing coworker well when they send their final, office-wide farewell email.