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Reclaiming the Lost Art of Connecting

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Reclaiming the Lost Art of Connecting

November 9, 2022

Wednesday 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. ET

Today, people have hundreds of "friends" and "connections” on social media, and chat with dozens of colleagues and clients daily via videoconferencing, IMs and email -- so why do so many people feel disconnected from others? Author, CEO, and Forbes 50 Over 50 award recipient Susan McPherson says it’s time to reclaim the power of human connection. She joined Wednesdays with Woodward to discuss her new book, The Lost Art of Connecting, and shared a new approach for developing lasting and fulfilling personal connections. This webinar taught us how to move beyond tech-driven, transactional networking to build meaningful professional and personal relationships that will power up your business and life.

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Summary

What did we learn? Here are the top takeaways from Reclaiming the Lost Art of Connecting.

A new approach to networking is overdue. While many assume her book was a response to the pandemic, Susan McPherson was compelled to examine the topic years earlier. “The impetus was really to pivot away from classic networking, which so many of us have learned how to do since the beginnings of our career and learned how to be – dare I say – transactional,” she said. “My goal was to flip that on its head and, instead, create a meaningful way to connect and network, leading with how I can be helpful to others.”

Business success relies on meaningful connections. “Connections really mean success, and we need meaningful connections to drive our businesses,” McPherson offered. “The connections, the communities I started building in my 20s, in my 30s, in my 40s actually turned into something much bigger than connections or contacts on LinkedIn. Think about all the amazing things that have happened in your life. Almost all of them happened because of connection.”

The most important connection you make is with yourself. “Do a self-analysis to find out what your superpowers or strengths are,” McPherson shared. “Many of us suffer from imposter syndrome or lack of confidence. You all have superpowers, and it doesn’t have to mean you have a Ph.D. in physics. You could be incredible at speaking multiple languages. You could make a fabulous tomato or spaghetti sauce. It takes looking in.”

Meaningful connections are built on helping each other. “Think about how you can be helpful to others,” McPherson advised. “We need to understand how we can be supporting others. So instead of walking into a room and thinking, ‘What can I gain?’ or ‘What can I walk away with?’ try walking into a room and thinking, ‘How can I be helpful?and What are my superpowers that I can be using to lead the way?’ It’s about learning to listen for the cues of ways you can be helpful.”

To build meaningful business relationships, follow the formula: Gather. Ask. Do. “The methodology is grounded in my professional experience,” said McPherson.

  • Gather. Identify your goals, then figure out who you want in your network that will help you meet your goals, as well as how you can help them meet their goals. “Literally and intentionally think about the 10 to 20 people you want to connect, and reconnect, with – then make a list.”
  • Ask. “Learn to ask the meaningful questions of others, so that you can find out what their hopes and dreams are, and that way you can be helpful.” Not only will this help you learn about others, but it can help you learn things within yourself.
  • Do. “The ‘do’ phase is where you become reliable, responsible, resourceful. You follow up. You follow through.” Think long term, not necessarily the next day. This is where “all the magic comes when people are connected.”

Network like a pro with the “power of three”. Go into events with a plan to meet three people, learn three things about those three people and share three things with them. Know what you want to accomplish and do your research ahead of time. “We often have the luxury to be able to know who is going to be in the room before we go, so you can think ahead and look up who those people are that can be helpful to you. That intentionality can relieve some stress,” McPherson shared.

Rekindle and repair relationships with grace. Don’t let reaching out after a long lapse or falling out of touch cause anxiety. McPherson’s advice? “Take ownership. Be honest: I’ve lost touch, I feel badly and I want to make amends.” Even if you don’t get a response, you’ll know you did the right thing by trying.

Connecting with others is good for your health. “It’s as good as running every day and eating kale every day in terms of your health and longevity,” McPherson offered. In fact, she practices what she preaches. “One of the things I did during the pandemic that I am continuously doing now is, every morning I reach out to three people, and in a way that I’m not expecting a return, but just letting them know I’m thinking of them.” 


Presented by the Travelers Institute, Master's in Financial Technology (FinTech) Program at the University of Connecticut School of Business, MetroHartford Alliance, Big I Minnesota and the Women's Diversity Network.

Speaker

Susan McPherson
Susan McPherson
Founder and CEO McPherson Strategies; Author, The Lost Art of Connecting 

Host

 Jessica Kearney Headshot  
Jessica Kearney
Assistant Vice President, Travelers Institute, Travelers

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