C.O.N.N.E.C.T.-ing

Hi meaningful leader,

This past week I had the honor to be invited to speak to two amazing teams at the Columbus, MS and Grand Prairie, TX Airbus Helicopters‘ plants about leadership and team-building and about my book. Both teams were so welcoming, engaged and inspiring and we were able to truly connect and learn from each other.

You see, when I speak, I like to engage the audience as much as possible so we can learn from one another and truly connect through our ideas, experiences and goals for the future.

But what does it mean to connect?

To connect means to be able to put aside any differences to find a common ground that makes us alike and relatable. It is to empathize with others and understand them better.

Connecting allows us to build authentic relationships; which ultimately supports our goal of building solid teams.

It allows us to share our experiences and keep each other sharp and accountable. It creates a bond!

Since connecting is so important for leaders, I have put together the following acronym to really unpack the value of connecting…

C – Communicate
Leaders must be able to effectively communicate with their team, peers and managers in order to create an instant connection and influence team members, colleagues and strangers alike. They must be able to express their ideas and feelings clearly, and listen with an open mind.

O – Open-Minded
An open-minded leader is one who is willing to accept different perspectives, consider new ideas, and embrace change. They are not afraid to question themselves and their team members, and look for ways to improve products, processes, and performance.

N – Network
Networking is essential for leaders who want to create an instant connection and influence team members, colleagues and strangers alike. It is important to build relationships with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and industries, as this will help to widen your knowledge and understanding of the world.

N – Negotiate
Negotiation is a key skill for any leader. It involves the ability to listen, understand, and persuade others in order to reach an agreement. Leaders must be able to assess the situation, identify their interests and those of the other parties involved, and come up with creative solutions to reach a win-win outcome.

E – Empathize
Leaders must be able to empathize with their team members, peers and managers in order to create an instant connection and influence team members, colleagues and strangers alike. Empathy involves understanding the feelings and emotions of others, and being able to put yourself in their shoes.

C – Cooperate
Cooperation is essential for any leader who wants to create an instant connection and influence team members, colleagues and strangers alike. Leaders must be able to work together with their team and managers to achieve a common goal, and foster a collaborative environment.

T – Trust
Trust is essential for any leader who wants to create an instant connection and influence. Trust is the glue that holds together a team. Leaders must be able to trust and rely on their team members, colleagues and managers and build strong relationships, as this will help to create a strong sense of loyalty, engagement and commitment.

One quote from Simon Sinek that’s always next to my desk states that “a team is not a group of people who work together, a team is a group of people who trust each other”. And the only way to establish trust is by learning how to truly connect with others authentically.

I hope you found value here today. If so, please like, comment and share with one person who can benefit from this content.

Thanks for reading and God bless,

Maria

Always rooting for you!