Connection

As humans, we all crave connection; however, establishing and maintaining connections in our daily lives can be very challenging, especially in these current Covid times. Through simple practices, we can choose to prioritize our relationships with others, because no matter what we achieve career-wise, it’s ultimately those connections that make us feel nourished and whole. 

The next key to unlocking your potential is connection. 

We’ve talked about self-care and the importance of nourishing yourself. Once you take the steps to satisfy your own needs, it’s time to look outside of yourself and connect with other people. We are all social creatures, and we’ve all had the experience of being lonely. We’ve all felt that hunger for connection. It’s important for us to foster relationships, both in sales and in life, as our networks are the foundation for our success and fulfillment. Our networks are our net worth. 

In sales, we all aspire to be trusted advisers. Trust and communication are the keys to our relationships with our clients. Developing and maintaining healthy relationships with the people in my network is so important to me, and I built my business on it. I credit my success to the connections I have fostered with my partners, my customers and my employees.

Recently, a client of mine, who I’ve worked with on multiple occasions, reached out to me to ask for some career advice. These are the conversations I look forward to most because they are not sales related. These are casual chats between two colleagues, two friends, offering each other insight and connecting on a deeper level. Invest in other people on the front end and they will return the favor, which results in lifelong relationships that transcend the confines of work. Give, and you will get back.

Connection is not just important in business; it’s important in all areas of life. Think about it, it’s connections that fill our internal voids and ground us in everything we do. 

You could tell from the opening scene that I’m an expert on connection. ;) My wife and I make a concerted effort to prioritize our relationship, and we do this by setting aside five minutes each every day just for us to talk, non-logistically. That may sound easy, but I encourage you to try it with your significant other or anyone who matters in your life. 

So, how do you go about establishing connections with others? It starts with trust and honesty. We have to build trust. And how do we build trust? By being open and honest, and by aligning our words and actions. 

The next step is building rapport. Building rapport requires more than just small talk; it demands vulnerability from both sides. It’s the process of really getting to know someone, and being genuinely interested, and letting them get to know you as well. It’s not about waiting for someone else to be done talking so you can get your two cents in.

The final component is communication. We all need to over-communicate and find the balance between sharing and listening. Being a good listener is essential to making sure the other person feels heard and understood. But sharing of oneself, and sharing vulnerably, is also a skill and a gift. Connection is not one-sided, it’s an ongoing give-and-take. 

I’ve already challenged you to create a connection with yourself through self-care. This week, I challenge you to connect with another. Circling back to what I mentioned previously, I challenge you to spend five minutes talking with a significant other or a friend non-logistically, and then to purely listen for five minutes without saying anything. Hold the other person as whole and complete, and co-voyage with them as they speak. During this exercise, observe your connection with yourself and with the other person. 

Congratulations, you’ve unlocked the next key to maximizing your potential: Connection. 

Until next time, Live Richly.