Simple Interactions and the Human Connection
I was on vacation last week, touring the Black Hills of South Dakota and the renowned Yellowstone National Park. For years, I have heard about the unique wildlife, the picturesque scenery, and esteemed national treasures. This trip has always been on my bucket list, and it did not disappoint. My favorite example of this was driving through Custer State Park – a herd of more than 200 Bison crossing the road nearly took my breath away. And though we hear about the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Old Faithful, it was the last-minute drive on the Needles Highway that struck me with its beauty and grandeur.
My family has done a fair amount of hiking over the years, so I’m quite familiar with the reward at the hike’s end: taking in the incredible view and feeling small compared to the world around me. Though the hikes over the years have varied in length, what always stays the same is the two-way trail foot traffic which is accompanied by familiar greetings of “Good morning!” or “Beautiful day!” exchanged by those with the common goal of finishing the hike. What struck me this time however, was the sincerity of these greetings as we hiked the trails of Yellowstone.
The trail’s “resting spots” provide greater opportunities for casual connection with other hikers. At these places, the interactions are longer and the conversations much deeper and richer than the fleeting greeting. Any random number of facts and questions are exchanged here, but it is not uncommon that the conversation is comprised of an experience or commonality that bonds you emotionally with the other person.
I have thought about this numerous times this past week and how the power of connection manifests today in leadership. Inside all of us is an innate desire and need to connect with others. There is not a more powerful tool that leaders have than the power of connection with those whom they lead. While this may mean setting aside ego to adopt a sincere interest in others, leaders can gain the trust and respect of their followers. When ego is replaced with humility, disconnection is replaced with relationship. Further, the culture that leaders create is engaged and inclusive, which fosters deeper followership. The culture and working relationships are not just more pleasant, they are more effective.
In my days as an HR People leader, I discovered leaders who captured the hearts and minds of others through authenticity and sincerity. These leaders had happier teams. Teams had better customer survey results, and their teams came to work happier and more satisfied. When ego is replaced by humility, ineffectiveness is replaced by effectiveness. Leaders who made work more about cultivating connection and less about ego ended up becoming inspirational and better coaches.
On the hiking trails in Yellowstone, I reaped the benefits of an enjoyable hike by simply greeting and easily connecting with other hikers. At work, leaders reap the benefits of a productive and effective workplace by easily being interested in those they lead. Any cost of losing ego can be easily recovered through the relationships shared with others at work. Nothing is more powerful than the tool of human connection.