How can our actions show we desire to make connections with others?
I am working with a group right now using John Maxwell’s book, Everyone Communicates, Few Connect. I have utilized this book for my Mastermind courses on a few occasions, and shared those experiences on this site. I am also reading another Maxwell book called, 25 Ways to win with People. I wanted to cross reference these two books, with the focus on making connections to others. For me, connection is going beyond the hello or good morning, followed by small talk. Making a connection with others is about enriching their lives and making them feel special.
Get beyond the pleasantries with a pause. In his book, 25 Ways to win with people, John Maxwell talks about getting to know your people. Sharing stories and checking in on their families can be an excellent connection tool. Sometimes we fail by not taking a pause when we greet one another. Pause, stop, and visit, share what is going on in your world. Ask what others are going through in their life and how their family is doing. If you know of something that connects the both of you, choose to dive into better conversations. When we pause and talk about personal information, connection is bound to happen.
Let people know we cannot meet the needs of our organizations without their skillset. Compliment them and reinforce their reputations. When someone knows we believe in them as a person or co-worker it tells them we value them. This is a great connection opportunity. Ultimately people want to be seen as a valuable member of a team and have the freedom to contribute to something bigger than themselves.
Share a dream we are passionate about or something we are working on but follow it up with a request for help. When we request the help of our people, it builds trust. Once again, they see we value their opinions and their ability to help us work around situations we are deeply involved in.
How can you go beyond the simple greeting to make great connections?
How can we share with others, their value to our organizations?
How can we share a dream and ask for someone’s help to achieve it?
Our goal should always be connecting with our co-workers, friends, and acquaintances. One of the most effective ways to do this is to share your belief in them and their abilities. Share with them how important they are to you and the organizations we lead. When people know this, they will feel a connection with you and will ultimately trust you. I hope you have some great people who you relate to. If not, move past the basic interaction a find a connection. Thanks for checking out this post and please leave a comment that will add to this conversation. Have a great week!
Steven C. Bucks- Leading Conversations
~Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member~
References:
Maxwell, J.C., &Parrott, L. (2005). 25 Ways to Win with People: How to Make Others Feel Like a Million Bucks. Nelson Business
Maxwell, J. C. (2010). Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently. Thomas Nelson Incorporated.
