Connections, Values and Mentors Help Make Great Leaders
Terra Argo
Empowering Tribal Nations in Energy Development | Championing Collaboration, Innovation, and Sustainable Futures
Connection – “The energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgement; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” – Brené Brown
During my career I often had colleagues ask me after board meeting’s, “How in the world do you connect with “THE Board Members”??It was so foreign to them.?They thought for some reason these people are different just because they are a board member.?
My answer was always, they are #human and no different than me.?They put their pants on just like I do.?I would always treat them like a human and start a conversation looking to discover our common interests. I would build a relationship based on our interests and speak to them every meeting which built trust and respect.????
Building genuine and authentic #connections is critical in life.?I can tell you from experience that these types of connections feed our soul because as humans we were not designed to walk alone. We crave human to human connection.?I believe great leaders are not only great connectors but are also rooted in their values and have mentors to hold them accountable. Let’s dive a little deeper into why values and mentors are so important to this equation.??
Values – the principles that help you decide what is right and wrong, and how to act in various situations. - Cambridge English dictionary
Values are foundational.?People must get to know oneself by exploring who they are.?What excites them? What are their dislikes? What do they care about most?
My friend Lindsay Harle-Kadatz says it best...
"Values are actions, not fluffy statements”.
Determine your #values, write them down, live by them daily and make decisions and set boundaries based on them.
Mentor(s) – a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.?An influential senior sponsor or supporter. – Dictionary.com
Mentors are instrumental to our success in life and business. Find #mentors for the different areas of your life (i.e., business, life, parenting, faith, etc.) as there is not one person that can be a trusted counselor for every area. Over the years I have found that asking people to be my mentor was not nearly as successful as building a connection and relationship with them and always seeking their counsel in their area of expertise. There’s a mutual understanding that they are mentoring me without putting boundaries on the relationship.
Find people that are wise, trustworthy and you admire to help guide you, act as your cheerleader, hold you accountable and is a sounding board that will provide feedback.?Make sure to respect your mentors time and commitment as it is important to give as well as receive.
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?Discovering your values, finding mentors, and learning to connect in a genuine and authentic way will not only take you far in life and business it will also fulfill the human need to connect.?
A few things to ponder:
??There is not a right way to connect with people, it is the way that feels most comfortable to you.?
??Connecting online should look the same as it does in person.
?? How do you make people feel?
?? What does it look like to have a conversation with you?
Now it’s time to do the work. Let me know how it’s going for you!
Digital Impact '22
"Boardroom" Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
"You Didnt Come This Far" Photo by?Drew Beamer?on?Unsplash
Innovation Enabler, Community Builder, Collaboration Coach,
2 年Connection with other people brings our lives so much richness. Love that you tied this in with our values and trusted mentors Terra Argo. We are gifts for each other.
Great leaders come from great cultures. I help companies create cultures that generate great leaders. | Values Vixen ?? | Neuro Change Method?, Master Practitioner ?? | Listening Facilitator & Ongoing Student??
2 年Great article, Terra! People are people and understanding the foundations that make us human goes a long way to building true connections. What I love about your insights on mentors is that we can have a variety of mentors across different avenues of our life. I've found that in building relationships with my mentors through curiosity, action, and - as you beautifully highlighted - respecting their time, has helped me grow 10x. Learning and listening to them is an honour, full of lessons to take away.
Help Service Led Companies Scale Purpose & Profits /0-10MM Revenue/ Fractional Service Provider/ Keynote Speaker/Multiple Times Best Selling Author /Award Winner/ Investor
2 年That is true, we are all able to connect
I live this trifecta: Serendipity, Abundance mindset & paying it forward. Me? Pitch-deck Ninja. I craft compelling stories, strapped to laser tight market/consumer data and create a visual sammich THEY will want.
2 年Terra Argo people are just people.....at the end of the day. All varied experiences, skills and passions...but just peeps! #GreatShare