The Importance of Making and Maintaining Connections.
Learn how embracing human interactions and networking can profoundly impact your career
When it comes to our careers and personal leadership journeys, there are numerous ways to seek information and advice. However, I find that one of the most effective methods is to examine the paths that others have taken and gain insight from their experiences. A favoured question on the After Dinner Leadership podcast is “What three leadership lessons do you wish you had learned earlier” Each response is unique and personal but there are certainly trends and themes in the responses we receive.
In episode 51 of the show, Simon sat down with Colin Stewart, and they discuss the leadership lessons he wished he learnt earlier in his career and how he has led through a crisis in the aviation industry. When asked this question Colin responded with three profound lessons that he wished he learnt earlier in his career:
1. Don’t try to be the expert in everything, as you will be quickly discovered.
2. It’s important to set a plan and have an objective but plans change and that’s okay.
3. Make and maintain connections.
When speaking about the third lesson he wished he learnt earlier, Colin shared the impact and example of his brother who shared with him the importance of networking and maintaining relationships. It can be very easy when attending events or even just going to work to stay within the lines of comfort. To stick with those, you know and those you feel comfortable around but what Colin’s brother Mark shared with him was “What do you have to lose?” The conversation may be stopped quickly, or you may be turned a cold shoulder. However, you may make a valuable connection and relationship with someone that you would never have if you didn’t put yourself out there.
Dale Carnegie, the author of How to Win Friends and Influence People, once said, “A person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” In other words, say their name if you want to leave a positive impression on someone—to make them feel noticed, important, and valued.
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Once we make connections with others it is equally important to maintain them. Remembering and using individuals’ names is a powerful way to make them feel valued and important especially if they are more junior in their role.
We must remember a valuable insight shared by Colin in this episode. “Be human,” Colin mentioned that something that has helped him a lot in his career is to not be scared to talk to people, older and more senior than himself. He shared a story that as a young employee, the Managing director of Stansted Airport walked into his office and Colin asked how he was doing. The response he received was “Very well, thank you for asking” Colin's peers were shocked that he just spoke to the MD. But Colin is completely right, we just need to be more human in our interactions with others whilst paying due respect to those in management positions. But not to forget the human aspect of the business.
As we look ahead, this lesson remains important, if not vital, as we move into a world where AI and systems are being carefully refined and powerfully created, we must remember to build and maintain those human relationships, whether it be in our team or networking with those we have never met before. We must “just be human.”
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