The 12 Days of Illumination: Day 8
How to master the art of connection
Welcome to Day 8 of The 12 Days of Illumination, a special daily dose of inspiration and easy-to-incorporate insights running from December 20 through the end of the year. Be sure to check out the archives to catch up on previous issues, and feel free to share this one with your friends. Or better yet, invite them to join our Illuminate Me tribe!
Have you ever encountered someone who made you feel like you knew them and who “got” you?
They’ve mastered the art of connection.
Here are seven easy ways you can too:
1. Focus on your awareness
It’s not enough to know how you move through the world; you need to understand how your energy affects others — does the mood improve or dampen when you walk in the room?
2. Actively listen
You can’t connect with someone if you’re always talking. Active listening demonstrates respect and builds trust. People will naturally align themselves with leaders who make them feel heard and understood.
3. Give others your undivided attention
We connect more easily to those we trust, and offering others our undivided attention fosters that trust. So resist the temptation to multitask, set down your phone, and focus on eye contact.
4. Put yourself in their shoes
It’s hard to connect with someone if you don’t appreciate their perspective. Using empathy to see things from someone else’s point of view helps you better understand and relate to their situation, fostering greater connection.
5. Share more than just the wins
People respect and connect to those who also share their struggles. When you openly share challenges and how you found your way out of them, you bring a refreshing realness and relatability to your communications, endearing you to others.
6. Don’t be afraid to be human
One of the best ways to connect with others is to be human, which means finding the courage to be vulnerable. When we’re brave enough to ask for help, we model vulnerability as a strength, creating a culture and environment of openness and collaboration, enhancing connection.
7. Value relationships over transactions
It’s hard to connect with people when they feel like they don’t matter. Put people first, seeing them as human beings rather than a means to the end of a task.
Shine on,
Amy
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P.P.S. When I’m not creating daily doses of illuminating insights, I’m a social media ghostwriter. (Yep, that’s a thing). I help founders, entrepreneurs, and CXOs craft their stories to communicate and connect better by magnifying their reach and impact. (Think personal branding and thought leadership.) Learn more here.
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