Are you connecting...

with more people or with people more? 

As a leader, which do you do?

Technology has definitely enabled more connections and connectivity but  I can't help but wonder if leaders are using technology effectively or conversely if they are effective in using it.


It is one thing to use technology to connect with more of your team members and another to connect with them more. The former talks about quantity on connections and the latter is about the quality of connections.

To be an effective leader, connecting with your team members must not be just a check-the-box activity. If you do it that way, you inadvertently limit your team members' productivity.

Connecting more with people - not necessarily with more people is an even more critical success factor now that physical distancing is resulting in some isolation. Your team members need to know that you care for them as individuals more than you care for the work that they do.

As one of favourite manager taught me:

"When you take care of the people, they will take care of the work."

I encourage you to carve out time to connect more with your team members - as individuals not just as workers. Do not be in a rush to connect with more people - slow down and connect more with each person.

Caring about what they are each going through will indicate to them that they matter to you and they will do what they can to pay attention to what matters to you. Yes, you will be amazed on the return on that time invested. Connect more!


Note: Last image from iStock