“The best minute you spend is the one you invest in people” Ken Blanchard, Legendary Service & The New One Minute Manager
Whether at the office, or in your community, using these 3 people connectors will add relational bonding to every contact you have with others.
1. Learn and use preferred names. Don’t assume that the name printed on a uniform or the name you hear others call a person by is what they want to be called. A lady in one of my workshops told me, “Most people at work call me Pat, but I prefer to be called ‘Patty. ‘” If you’re not certain what name to use, ask, “What name do you like to be called?” Remembering and using that name will improve the power of every connection you have with that person.
2. Discover their passions. You may not even have to ask. Look around. See any telltale lapel pins, trophies, pictures, books or logos? If you don’t see any clues, then ask, “What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?” If they love the Steelers, then remember to ask about the Steelers quarterback, Big Ben, the next time you connect. You’ve added more power to your connection with them.
3. Know what their current event or project is. What’s going on in their life that’s important to them. It might be a positive thing like a wedding or a trip or it could be something challenging like a broken relationship or a health issue. Simply asking, “So, what’s going on with you?”, may reveal important insights that you can respond to in a helpful way. You’re building a powerful connection.
I’m sure you can see that the real key here isn’t these three particular pieces of information. Rather it’s your focus on others. Remember that when you grab and hold the conversational mike to talk about you and your world, you’re sapping energy from the connection. Particularly if you’re a leader, make conversations about others not you.
“You don’t inspire your teammates by showing them how amazing you are. You inspire them by showing them how amazing they are.” Robyn Benincasa
“You provided skills that we were able to apply that afternoon.”