For those tired of tech-driven, transactional networking, a guide to reclaiming the power of human contact―and a new approach for developing lasting and fulfilling personal connections. Today, people have hundreds of "friends" on Facebook and countless "contacts" on LinkedIn, so why do so many of us feel disconnected? In
The Lost Art of Connecting, Susan McPherson presents a paradigm shift for the way we make meaningful connections in business and in life.
While social media platforms make it easier for people to connect with those they want to reach, these interactions are often dehumanizing--transactional, agenda-driven, and lacking depth. McPherson explains that we need to go back to the basics and connect in an entirely new way, using technology as a tool and not a means to an end. Her methodology is broken down into three simple steps:
1.
Gather: Instead of waiting for the perfect networking event to happen, think outside of the box and create your own opportunity―but keep it simple: a dinner party, a bake-sale, a dog park meetup of fellow pup lovers, or a volunteer effort at your neighborhood food pantry. Start by looking within: What is your purpose in life? What constellations of connections do you most need? If you are willing to be completely yourself, to be brave, and to get uncomfortable (within reason, of course ) the constellation of contacts you seek to create will more easily fall into shape. Proactively seek diversity and find connectors who can further expand your reach.
2.
Ask: Instead of leading with your own rehearsed elevator pitches asking
for help, look for ways to
offer it. Ask, "How can I help?" and shine the light on others. By offering first, receiving help later will follow naturally. By connecting with an offer of assistance, you can move a casual or one-off acquaintance into a deeper and more meaningful relationship. Make it easy for someone else to say yes with tactics like the 5-minute ask, or offering three ways someone else can help.
3.
Do: Turn new connections into meaningful relationships by following through on the promises you made, keeping in touch, and moving past small talk; Embrace your vulnerability and have conversations that matter. In this part, McPherson will also teach readers how to tackle tough but important follow-up tasks like raising funds for a cause, knowing how much money or time you can give, and drawing the line between a favor and a fee-based service. Most importantly, readers will learn how to help others feel seen, safe and secure. McPherson shares tips for finding people's uniqueness or "secret sauce", what she calls their "Chief Differentiating Factor" and as well as how to show it to them--in a way they'll never forget.
Shot through with equal doses of humor, humility, and encouragement,
The Lost Art of Connecting is the handbook everyone needs to catapult their way to success in a way that is fulfilling, sustainable and blurs the line between work and play. McPherson draws on her own experience starting a communications firm and cites stories of experts like Baratunde Thurston, Tiffany Dufu, Whitney Johnson, Brooke Baldwin, and Adam Grant, who have spent their careers building meaningful connections into successful enterprises.
