How to Build Genuine Connections Through Internal Communication

What do I want to be known for? This question lingered in my mind during a brisk and rainy day this past December as I reconnected with an old college friend in Vancouver. As we walked with his wife and their two-month-old to a local restaurant, he reminded me of a quip I had made a few years back. I had once said that I would always "know someone who knew someone who could make a thing a thing." It got me thinking about the kind of person I want to be—someone who may not have all the answers but can always find someone who does. I live my life like this. This principle is the foundation of the value I want to provide to customers, partners, and my team with Casper Studios. The key to this is genuine curiosity. Take a real interest in the people you meet, whether they're colleagues, classmates, or strangers at a party. Listen to their stories, passions, and challenges. Offer help when you can without expecting anything in return. This curiosity builds understanding and empathy. When you listen to someone, you gain insight into their world. The next time you meet someone in a similar situation, you'll have a shared point of reference, a way to relate and connect. I call this the flywheel of understanding. It starts with a simple conversation and a willingness to ask questions and learn. What's been on their mind? What are they excited or worried about? Skip the small talk and dive into what matters to them. As you have more of these conversations, you start to see patterns and opportunities to connect the dots between people and ideas. You become a hub in your network, someone people seek out for advice, introductions, and insights. This only works with trust. People need to know that you'll handle their stories and secrets with care and that you have their best interests at heart. One breach of trust can undo years of relationship building. Be that person - the curious, caring connector. Build your network not for status or personal gain but out of genuine interest in the people around you. Be the person who knows someone, not because you're wheeling and dealing, but because you've taken the time to listen, understand, and build the relationship. In a world where so much can be automated or outsourced, these human skills of empathy, trust-building, and connection will become more valuable. It's not just about what you know but who you know and how well you can bring them together.

𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙄 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙮 90 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙙, 𝙬𝙝𝙤'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨. True connection-building? 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵, 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝘀: - Exchanging contacts as if we’re collecting stamps. - The almost obligatory post-meeting "Great connecting with you!" email. - A LinkedIn connection request followed by...crickets. Not all cringe but getting close. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀: - Genuine interest in the other person's work and challenges. - Consistent effort to provide value without expecting anything in return. - Openness to sharing knowledge and resources freely. - Patience and understanding that not all relationships will bloom overnight - Resilience to maintain a positive outlook, even when efforts seem unreciprocated 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙩'𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 "𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙." 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁? 😂 This is LinkedIn, folks, not a cold call rejection hotline. Crafting meaningful relationships is less about adding a contact and more about being real, showing up, and sometimes, being the one who gives a bit more. So here’s to creating vibes that last, rooted in respect, patience, and authenticity. 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱, 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸, 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. Let’s make our connections matter, with a little more heart and a lot less "I’m not interested." Because this, right here, is LinkedIn. 🚀

Today, I had the privilege of spending lunch with an old friend. We met many years ago at a Starnet Commercial Flooring Annual Meeting when he was in marketing for major manufacturer in the Northeast. I was introduced as a customer, and over the years, we remained mutually invested in one another’s story, both personally and professionally, checking in from time-to-time on social media and getting together when business travels put us in closer proximity. I was glad that he reached out after he met with #Starnet’s Board today in Atlanta. While we have worked together and helped one another network and forge new business opportunities over the years, today was not about that. Our conversation had little to do with business and a whole lot to do with life. From sharing stories of our families to exploring our mutual interests, we finally felt compelled to talk a little shop before we made our way back to my office. This experience was a reminder of the profound impact genuine relationships can have in our professional world. As I coach my team about the importance of #relationship #building, a few themes stood out in reflection of my day: 1. **Embrace #Storytelling**: Always remember, behind every successful business interaction, there's a personal story. Share your experiences and listen to others. This builds a foundation of trust and understanding that goes beyond mere transactions. 2. **Invest in #Mentorship**: If you're just starting out, seek mentorship. If you're experienced, offer it. Mentorship is a powerful tool for learning the art of relationship-building, providing a platform to share insights on nurturing genuine connections. 3. **Value #Authenticity**: In a world of targets and quotas, it's easy to overlook the human element. I encourage you to be authentic. Genuine relationships are about more than just business; they're about mutual support and success. By prioritizing real connections in my professional life, I am more fulfilled at work. I am sure others around me are too. This is what makes work fun; doing business with people we care about and enjoy being around. Business is often very transactional. But when we seek mutual investment in a business relationship, we build an understanding around what drives people, what gives them purpose, and what fuels their ambitions. That can be a vulnerable place to be in. It doesn’t come naturally, and so, it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a product of showing interest in someone for years at a time and doing so authentically. When we can understand what fuels our colleague’s personal interests, winning together in business is much more fun and overcoming challenges is far less dramatic. All that to say, when you invest in those who want to invest in you, you’ll reap the benefits for years to come. Move beyond the transaction at hand and make a deposit in someone’s story. It can become a building block for a long-term #friendship. #Networking #Commercial #Flooring #Business