I ran into one of Intel's veteran leaders at the cafe. It was his last week before starting his retirement. I had not met or worked with him before, but I had heard a lot of great things about him. He walked by me and I used the opportunity to say hello and wish him farewell. Our conversation lasted for about 15 minutes, but it's impact on me would last for a long time. It was amazing how a leader could build trust, and get a fan in less than 15 minutes by doing the following:

Be Present: During our entire conversation, I felt I was the most important person in the world. He was fully present, leaned in and listened.

Be Human: He was authentic, inviting, and approachable. There was a genuine interest in getting to know me and my background. I forgot I was speaking with one of our senior leaders.

Be Vulnerable: He was open, curious and asked questions.

It is Not About You: While I was excited to meet him, I left our conversation feeling he was excited to meet me.

Build Trust: After our conversation, he said he would stay in touch. I got an email the following day with his personal contact. Anyone who keeps their word, certainly earns my respect.

I work with a lot of leaders but this encounter stood out to me. He wasn't just communicating, he was connecting with me. According to John Maxwell, "Connecting is the ability to identify with people and relate to them in a way that increases your influence with them." He added value to me by showing that he valued me as a person.

Leaders are always on stage. Every interaction is an opportunity to build trust. Your ability to connect and tap into the discretionary energy of your team can make or break your vision. If you want to make a difference, it is important to connect with people on a personal level. This is key in influencing others and accelerating results in your business.

What are you going to do to connect with the people within your sphere of influence?

I would love to hear from you. What's your memorable leader connection experience?

#Trust #Culture #Engagement #Leadership #Management