Consciously Connecting with Confidence

Connection is at the heart of everything. At the molecular level, the cosmic level, and the interpersonal level, connections are everywhere. In fact, without connection, nothing is possible.

In our work focused on developing world-class leaders, those who have a profound ability to connect with others and connect others to larger systems and purposes are significantly more impactful. Every one of us has a strong desire to experience something we might describe as being understood with compassion – with a felt sense of connection.

We long to feel connected “to” and connected “with”.

As leaders develop their professional capability, this area is often overlooked. We aim it with solutions and training in EI, executive presence and soft skills. We do tend to be overly focused on processes and solutions versus outcomes. In our view, it makes much more sense to aim for an outcome than focus on finding a remedy for a problem.

The ability to create a felt sense of conscious connection is a highly desirable outcome.

The first step is to begin to deeply value connection at an intrinsic level. We will not make progress and our efforts will lack sincere intent unless we are willing to embrace the value for us, others and our strategic objectives. Part of the confidence in connection comes from it’s own powerful connection to what is meaningful for us and beyond us.

The second step is to develop the capability to consciously, mindfully, genuinely connect with others. This is beyond skills and requires mature and wise competence grounded and embodied in a personal presence which is nourishing and desireous of connection. Our confidence in the impact of our presence fuels our growth and inspires others to connect with us.

The third step is to develop and live a self liberating story which integrates our values and capabilities in a way that transforms our way of being into a conscious connector.

These steps are not linear, as this is a complex adaptive systemic developmental adventure.

I am indebted to my colleague Dumi Magadlela for introducing me to the language of “conscious connection” through his championing and role modelling of Ubuntu living and leadership. He has opened the way to smoother language for the mindfulness-based neuroscience grounded approaches to developing leaders we have promoted for many years.

Learn more: Dumi and I will be presenting a webinar as a part of Team Coaching Week entitled: Conscious Connection: Strengthening Interdependence on Teams.