The power of connecting with intent

As our awesome friend and owner of Create the Ripple, Emma Lloyd, says: ‘creating meaningful connections with others lights up our own lives and has the power to create lasting ripples of positive change in the world’. I couldn’t agree more and would go further in saying that connecting in an intentional and genuine way with team members and others is central to the success of any leader.

Connection takes several forms. It could be an act of vulnerability, as a leader shows feelings or thoughts that feel risky or may show a weakness. It might be an act of kindness like offering help, a shoulder to cry on, or a leader putting the feelings of a team member before their own. It could even just be being present and listening intently to what a team member is saying, making them feel heard and valued.

Connection builds trust. And trust builds stronger relationships that nurture better wellbeing and higher performance.

In the post-pandemic world, in which many organisations have embraced a hybrid working pattern, building and maintaining connection has become harder. Adam Smiley Poswolsky in his HBR article How Leaders Can Build Connection In A Disconnected Workplace goes as far as saying that the so-called ‘Great Resignation’ could actually be called the ‘Great Disconnection’, as research has shown a large proportion of people leaving roles has been because they feel disconnected from their roles and workplaces. He argues that the antidote to this is to promote meaningful connection at work.

Leaders can connect better by building their skills in ‘attunement’, which is the ability to be aware of their own state of mind and body while tuning in and connecting to another person. In their book ‘Missing Each Other’, Brodkin and Pallatra say that attunement is ‘a power that enables us to perceive communications from others, to connect and have our message understood, and to manage conflict’.

In our model of intentional leadership, we believe that maintaining this level of attunement takes intention from all leaders. It’s therefore vital that leaders take care to approach each conversation they have deliberately and intentionally. Be clear on the purpose of the conversation and watch out that your intention and impact are congruent. Use your listening skills – make them feel that they are the most important person in the world. Be empathetic and understanding of their views, and maintain your presence in the conversation at all times.

This approach becomes even more important when there is a difficult conversation on the cards. For these riskier discussions, when its more likely that emotions will be heightened, being intentional is core to success. The ability to be direct but kind, listen effectively, and maintain our own emotions as a leader will make the conversation easier and more successful. For everyone.

Your connection with your team is your ticket to them reaching their full potential and the highest performance. So be intentional, we promise it will pay dividends.