In the early 2000s, the television show “24” was a very popular series. Each show represented a single day in the life of Jack Bauer, played by Keifer Sutherland. He served as a counter-terrorism agent saving the world from a variety of threats.
During this same period, I was managing a manufacturing facility in Jonesboro, Ark., and needed to make a drastic change in the work culture. While I wouldn’t be saving the world, I needed to connect with the team and planned on meeting with every employee in a 24-hour window of time.
I had worked a few 24-hour days before, but never one intentionally planned.
The plan was to meet with every team member for 10-15 minutes consecutively until I spoke with everyone. We had over 100 employees, so it would be a full 24 hours!
While I was obviously tired after the conversations, the benefits were the foundation for our future success.
- I made a personal connection with every team member.
- I received a great deal of input that helped us improve.
- We set the standard for future one-to-one discussions within our facility.
- I was able to share our vision and plan with every team member.
- I changed the view of leadership for the people that worked in the facility.
The key was to connect. That focus is even more important today. Connecting with others has become a “lost art”.
Here are a few examples of why connecting with others is so important:
- Connect before you correct: Whether you are participating in a business meeting or providing direction to another person, connecting is your key to impact. Building a bridge with the other party will open the door for effective communication. People that ignore connecting will build a wall and block effectiveness. You can focus on being right and winning the debate, or you can focus on connecting and having impact.
- Connecting is the front door of leadership: Followers ultimately decide who the leaders are in every situation. When we connect with others, we show we care about them, value them, and are interested in their wellbeing.
- Connecting opens the door for progress: Connecting is often rooted in finding common ground to build on during negotiations. Connecting reduces tension levels and allows for productive conversations to take place.
- Connecting is the start of reconciliation: When two parties are “apart” for some reason, they must find a way to connect to understand one another and reunite the union through reconciliation.
- Connecting is the driver to unity: Teams are a group of people united for a common purpose. To unite a team, we must first connect. Connecting is often the first step to something extraordinary. It’s also the missed step in something disappointing!
Connecting with others does not require a special talent, but rather a special commitment. People that have this focus and make this commitment are special people that make others better. They elevate others, invest in people, resolve issues, restore relationships, and unite teams.
I love Jesus’s example of meeting people where they were at in life. Whether it was at a well in Samaria, a fishing boat, a tax collector booth, or along a dusty path, Jesus always made time to connect and engage with people.
Can you see connecting as an opportunity for you?
You don’t have to invest 24 consecutive hours, but you can make an intentional next step in your sphere of influence.
Doug provides professional speaking and coaching services to organizations and individuals. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build a team culture, feel free to reach out to Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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