Here are 3 ideas to help you cultivate more connection in your life this week 🔗 (if you're new here, I publish these weekly here, and also on LinkedIn).
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(1) What brings you here today?
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I run a lot of events. I attend a lot as well, especially networking ones. The question every business coach will say you MUST have an answer to, and one people dread the most (both asking and answering it) is this: so what do you do?
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There are so many reasons why this is a really hard question to answer, and also to ask. I could write an essay about why it isn’t helpful (perhaps for another time), but I like to keep these tips brief. So I offer an alternative - after introducing yourself, ask;
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❓What brings you here today?
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It allows people to talk about what they do, should they wish to, but it also invites someone to share something else, such as looking for a new role, wanting to get to know more about a topic. It also isn’t getting too personal. Personal questions are great, I love a deep-diving question, but this one is a much less daunting one to open with.
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(2) Go off script in the DMs
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I really dislike scripted DMs - the ones designed to get to know someone with the intention of sharing an offer. I don’t do this for my own business, and until last week, I rarely engaged in the open-ended questions people ask that require a lengthy response. (For example, “what are you working on at the moment?” is such a lazy question, especially when the answer lies in their profile/website.)
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But this past week, I did answer a handful of what looked like very generic questions, and I was pleasantly surprised with some of the answers and engagement admissions.
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So now I’m wondering if maybe I’ve been too cynical.
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(3) Get good at writing greeting card inscriptions
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Cards are a dying form of connection, but a heartfelt description is always memorable. I can name about 5 I’ve received over the years that stand out. I wish I could offer advice on this, but I can’t - it's more of a goal. As I approach a very busy birthday and Father’s Day season in my house, I remind myself that in the dying age of cards, a little thought goes a long way.
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Until next week,
Anna