Building Emotional Connections in Networking

15 Questions Thoughtful Leaders Ask to Build Trust I once believed trust was built by delivering big wins. But real trust starts with genuine curiosity and listening. Here are 15 questions that thoughtful leaders use to spark deeper connection and loyalty: 1️⃣ How are you, really? ↳ Starts with genuine care about the person. 2️⃣ What’s one small win you’re proud of this week? ↳ Brings positivity and acknowledges progress. 3️⃣ Is there anything we haven’t addressed that concerns you? ↳ Invites hidden thoughts or worries to surface. 4️⃣ What do you need from me right now? ↳ Shows willingness to support in a concrete way. 5️⃣ Where do you feel stuck? ↳ Identifies obstacles and demonstrates empathy. 6️⃣ What have you already tried? ↳ Builds on existing efforts and prevents rehashing the same solutions. 7️⃣ How can we make this process simpler? ↳ Prompts a collaborative search for more efficient approaches. 8️⃣ Who else’s perspective should we consider? ↳ Expands thinking and values diverse input. 9️⃣ Can you tell me more about how you arrived at that idea? ↳ Shows genuine interest in their thought process. 🔟 Which part of your work brings you the most energy? ↳ Helps align tasks with strengths and passion. 1️⃣1️⃣ What would success look like for you personally? ↳ Personalizes goals and respects individual definitions of success. 1️⃣2️⃣ How would you like to be recognized for your efforts? ↳ Tailors rewards to individual preferences. 1️⃣3️⃣ Who on the team deserves a shoutout this week? ↳ Fosters a culture of mutual appreciation. 1️⃣4️⃣ What’s one thing you’d change if you could? ↳ Encourages reflection on improvements or new opportunities. 1️⃣5️⃣ What’s your biggest takeaway from our conversation? ↳ Reinforces clarity, alignment, and next steps. Trust is built one genuine question at a time—when people see you care enough to truly listen. Which question will you start with today? Share below ♻️ Repost to help other leaders build genuine connections 🔔 Follow Dr. Chris Mullen for more insights on leadership and team-building

How could I build a career if I couldn't even handle a "simple" networking event? Twenty years later, I'm CHRO. And I still hate networking events. But I cracked the code. Traditional networking assumes collecting 50 business cards equals success. For introverts? One deep conversation beats 50 shallow hellos. Quality over quantity isn't just our preference. It's our superpower. So I built my own system. ——————————————— → The 100-Point Energy Budget Every event, you start with 100 energy points: • Random small talk: -15 • Meaningful conversation: -5 • Pretending to laugh at bad jokes: -20 • Finding a fellow introvert: +10 • Strategic "email break": +5 Hit 20 points? Leave. That's not quitting. It's resource management. ——————————————— → The 3-Deep Rule While extroverts collect 50 cards, I build 3 real connections. They get names. I get allies. They get LinkedIn adds. I get coffee meetings. They get forgotten. I get remembered. One meaningful conversation > 50 forgettable handshakes. Tell people you're "gathering insights for research." Now it's an interview, not small talk. Arrive 15 minutes early. Quieter room, better conversations. ——————————————— → The Opener That Works "I'm testing a theory that admitting you're an introvert at networking events creates better connections. You're participant seven." People lean in. They want in on your experiment. Ask what matters: "What problem are you tackling right now?" "If you weren't here, what would you rather be doing?" ——————————————— → The Lighthouse Strategy Don't circulate. Plant yourself somewhere visible. Let people come to you. Or volunteer at check-in for 30 minutes. Meet everyone, defined role, then disappear. Set 45-minute alarms. Energy check. Below 5? Bathroom break. ——————————————— → Permission Granted You can officially: • Leave after 52 minutes • Eat lunch alone at conferences • Say "I need to recharge" • Build your network through LinkedIn • Skip events that don't serve you My biggest deals came from 1-on-1 coffees, not cocktail parties. My best hires came from deep conversations, not speed networking. ——————————————— → The Truth Successful introverted executives didn't learn to act like extroverts. They learned to network like strategists. My record? 12-minute holiday party appearance. Two conversations. Both mattered. Still got promoted. Once had my assistant call with an "urgent client matter" 45 minutes into a dinner. The client was my cat. Zero regrets. Your quiet nature isn't a bug — it's an executive feature. Your energy management isn't high maintenance — it's self-leadership. The revolution isn't about becoming louder. It's about quiet leaders writing the rules. From a comfortable distance. Through screens or deep connection. Like the evolved professionals we are. ♻️ Share to save an introvert from networking hell 📩 Get my Networking Energy Toolkit → https://lnkd.in/dfhfHWe5

4 Skills That Helped Me Build Genuine Connections with My Network When I started networking, I struggled to make meaningful connections. I used to think networking was just about exchanging business cards or sending connection requests. But over time, I realized that real connections are built through trust, value, and authenticity. Here are 4 skills that helped me build strong and genuine relationships: 1. Active Listening I used to focus more on what to say next rather than truly listening. But when I started paying attention, asking follow-up questions, and showing genuine interest, conversations became deeper and more meaningful. - Studies show that good listeners are 40% more likely to build strong relationships because people feel valued and heard. 2. Being Helpful Without Expectations Instead of reaching out only when I needed something, I started offering help—whether it was sharing a resource, giving feedback, or introducing people to the right connections. According to research, people who give without expecting immediate returns build stronger long-term networks. 3. Sharing My Experiences Openly I used to hesitate to share my struggles and lessons, thinking they weren’t valuable. But when I started sharing my journey—both wins and failures—I noticed more people resonated with me. Authenticity creates trust, and trust builds meaningful connections. 4. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) I worked on understanding people’s emotions, responding with empathy, and adapting my communication style. Research shows that people with high EQ are 3x more successful in building lasting relationships because they make others feel understood and valued. 📍Remember, Networking isn’t just about numbers; it’s about genuine relationships that grow over time. Do you agree? Follow Swati Mathur for more. LinkedIn Guide to Networking LinkedIn #networking #connections #smpositivevibes

#LinkedIn Post: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 🌊 I watched a frustrated client try to "force" a difficult conversation with their boss for weeks. They came to me exhausted, defeated, and ready to quit their dream job. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺❓ 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗲 ���𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿. You know that feeling when you're pushing harder and harder against a situation, but nothing's moving? When every strategy feels like you're grasping at air? Here's what I learned from 5 years of coaching high-performers: 𝗡𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿. Let me explain with three real situations I've witnessed: 🔥 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 (𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱) Sarah, a marketing director, was frustrated with her team's lack of creativity. She scheduled back-to-back brainstorming sessions, sent demanding emails, and even threatened performance reviews. Result? Her team became more rigid and fearful. She was trying to force inspiration—like biting water. 💡 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 (𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱) When Sarah finally paused and observed, she realized her team was burned out from unrealistic deadlines. Instead of forcing creativity, she gave them time to breathe, brought in external inspiration, and created psychological safety. Suddenly, ideas flowed naturally. 🚀 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗲 Mark, a software engineer, was desperately trying to "network his way" into a senior role by attending every event and connecting with hundreds of people on LinkedIn. He was exhausted and getting nowhere. The solution? He stopped the spray-and-pray approach and instead focused on building three meaningful relationships in his field. Six months later, one of those connections offered him his dream position. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻❓ Every problem has its own unique solution. What works for one situation might be completely wrong for another. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝟯-𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: 1️⃣ 𝗣𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘 - Stop the force. Step back and breathe. 2️⃣ 𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘 - What's really happening here? What's the true nature of this problem? 3️⃣ 𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗣𝗧 - Match your approach to the situation's needs, not your comfort zone. Water teaches us flexibility. It doesn't fight the rock—it finds another way around, over, or through. Eventually, it shapes the landscape. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻: Think about a current challenge you're facing. Are you trying to "bite water"? What would happen if you paused, observed, and adapted your approach instead? Sometimes the most powerful action is knowing when NOT to act with force. --- 💬 What's one situation where you discovered that stepping back was more powerful than pushing forward? Share your story below—I read every comment. 🔄 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 this if you know someone who needs to hear this message today.

Every opportunity that changed my life came from a relationship (not a resume). 6 tips to build a network that actually works for you: 1/ Check In Without Needing Anything ↳ Send "how are you?" texts more often than "can you help me?" emails. ↳ People forget what you said, but they remember that you stayed in touch. 2/ Give Before You Get ↳ The best networkers give help more often than they ask for it. ↳ Share opportunities, make introductions, send useful articles. 3/ Start Building Today ↳ The worst time to build relationships is when you desperately need them. ↳ Your next job won't come from a blind job app. It'll come from someone you know. 4/ Make It Personal ↳ Remember birthdays, kids' names, their big wins. ↳ One genuine conversation beats 100 business cards. 5/ Stay Consistent ↳ Set reminders to reach out quarterly. ↳ Small efforts compound into strong connections. 6/ Be The Connector ↳ Introduce people who should know each other. ↳ Become known as someone who helps others win. The net worth of your network compounds faster than your 401(k). Every promotion, every opportunity, every breakthrough... They all started with a relationship. Your dream job is one conversation away. But that conversation only happens if you've been nurturing relationships all along. Start today. Text someone you haven't talked to in months. Not because you need something. Just because relationships are your most valuable career asset. What's your favorite way to network? Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network. And give me a follow for more posts like this.

How to network and connect at games events A lot of younger gamers have asked for tips on how to navigate socializing at industry events, although I also believe most of this is generally applicable to any industry or situation. The truth is, the best networkers aren’t focused on networking at all. They’re just great at having genuine, meaningful interactions with others. Here are a few things I’ve learned from the best at it over 25+ years, since my first internship: 1. Relationships are least about talking about business. Unless it’s a specific work discussion, the best relationship-builders spend most of their time telling stories, having fun, and making others feel at ease. Don't make people feel like they are in an interview or a timeshare pitch in what is a social situatiom 2. Make space for the other person. Everyone enjoys talking about themselves at some level. Ask questions, listen, and give them a chance to share too 3. Read the room and recognize different social styles. For example, some senior people just want to relax with existing close friends - not the best time to pitch them or talk shop. Like you, there are many I would die to talk to. But they are human just like you and me and it is kind to give them space - imagine how you would feel if everywhere you went everybody wanted to say the same things to you about how they are such a big fan. And then some are very approachable - it simply varies a lot Also, some folks thrive on high-energy conversations, while some prefer deeper 1:1 discussions. Some people engage more after a few casual interactions, while others are ready to dive into meaningful topics right away. The better you pick up on these cues, the smoother your conversations will be 4. Be prepared for common topics. Expect people to ask what you’re playing, what you think about the industry, or what your company is up to. Have something thoughtful to say so you’re not caught off guard 5. Know your social style too. In large groups, I’m often quieter. I thrive more in 1:1 or small group settings. I think that’s okay - I don’t force myself too far outside my comfort zone 6. Be (appropriately) real. It’s a balance - don’t overshare, but if someone asks how you’re doing and you trust them, be honest. Some of the best connections I’ve made came from having real conversations on shared interests or concerns. 7. Give people your full attention. No looking at your phone, no scanning the room, no appearing distracted. Nothing will happen in the 30 or 60 minutes you’re together that can’t wait. Go device-free and be present - it makes a difference 8. You’re not a robot - be natural. Even with everything above, there’s an approach, not mannered or fake, to doing this well. The goal is to be prepared without sounding canned, to have awareness without being overly calculated, and to engage meaningfully without forcing it. It takes time. 9. Kindness and humility Self-explanatory 10. Total authenticity People can tell

I once interviewed a candidate for a role. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it that time. When I informed her, the candidate replied: "Thank you for letting me know. I truly appreciate your time. I would like to join you in future openings" Hang up the phone with a Smile. -No complaints. -No frustration. -Just gratitude. Two months later, another role opened up for another opportunity. I remembered this candidate immediately. We called her again. This time, she got selected. Why? Because her professionalism during rejection stayed in my mind. Lessons I learnt as a leader: -Grace in failure creates future opportunities. -Attitude matters as much as skills. -Politeness costs nothing but returns everything. Dear Jobseekers, Even if you got rejected, reply with dignity. Even if you feel disappointed, be respectful. Even if you don’t get the role, leave a good impression. Because sometimes, rejection is just a delayed selection. #HR #Hiring #Leadership #CareerGrowth

Struggling to write LinkedIn posts that actually connect with people? You’re not alone. Every week, I meet brilliant professionals with powerful journeys, but their LinkedIn presence tells none of it. No impact. No visibility. No connection. That’s where storytelling changes everything. Over the last few years, I’ve helped hundreds of professionals turn bland updates into stories that spark engagement, build thought leadership, and unlock career opportunities. Here’s the exact storytelling framework I use with them: 🔹 1. Start with a hook that creates tension Don’t say: “I got promoted.” Say: “I almost quit my job last week. Then something unexpected happened…” 🔹 2. Follow the 3-Act Structure Beginning: Set the scene Middle: Share the challenge/conflict End: Deliver the outcome/lesson 🔹 3. Use vivid details Not: “I had a tough meeting.” Say: “My hands were shaking as I opened that PowerPoint at 9:03 AM…” 🔹 4. Add real dialogue Dialogue draws readers in. “Are you sure you can lead this team?” “Watch me,” I said. 🔹 5. Show vulnerability Own your missteps. Talk about your doubts. That’s what makes you relatable and trustworthy. 🔹 6. Keep paragraphs short No walls of text. White space improves readability and retention. 🔹 7. Always end with value Wrap with a takeaway: “What did YOU learn?” “What can OTHERS apply?” It builds a human connection, which is what LinkedIn is truly about. Not just B2B or B2C. But H2H — Human to Human. I offer LinkedIn Profile Optimization for professionals who are ready to attract better opportunities. 👉 DM me if you’d like a profile audit or want help revamping your profile from checkbox to client magnet. #LinkedInTips #PersonalBranding #Storytelling #ContentStrategy #CareerGrowth #ProfileOptimisation

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers, It’s about asking better questions. Fighting to get heard in the workplace can be exhausting. I’m sure we’ve all experienced: - Drifting off mid-sentence - Realizing no one was listening - Wanting desperately to be heard And the harsh truth is... As leaders, we often create those moments for our teams, without even realizing it. Active listening isn’t just about being polite. It’s about understanding, absorbing, and responding. Yet it’s a skill that often gets overlooked because of: ❌ Time pressure ❌ Mental distractions ❌ The urge to 'fix' things These are real hurdles, but they can be overcome. Here’s how to turn active listening into your superpower: 1. Turn silence into your secret weapon After someone finishes speaking, pause for a few seconds. That silence often encourages them to share more. 2. Echo what you’ve heard Paraphrase: "So what I’m hearing is..." This shows you're engaged and ensures mutual understanding. 3. Ask better follow-up questions A simple 'Why' to explore the question behind the question.  Try: "What options did you consider and reject?" Listening isn’t passive. It’s a choice: ✅ that strengthens decision-making ✅ that improves team dynamics ✅ that builds trust So next time you’re in a conversation, ask yourself: Am I truly listening? Or just waiting for my turn to talk? ♻️ Repost to help your network become better listeners. 🔔 Follow Dave Kline for more.

Have you ever worked with someone who you can’t quite unlock? That colleague or boss who leaves you scratching your head, wondering what makes them tick? Or even worse — you THINK you have them figured out…until you clearly don’t. If there's one thing I've learned in my years of communication coaching (and my 53 years as a human) it's that when someone seems "unlockable," it's often because we're using the wrong approach to connect. Here are four strategies that can help you find that elusive key: 1. Observe them in different contexts. We all show different facets of ourselves depending on the situation. Notice how they interact in meetings versus one-on-ones. Do they light up during client presentations but withdraw during team lunches? These patterns provide valuable clues about their communication preferences and what energizes them versus what depletes them. 2. Ask open-ended #questions that invite #storytelling. Instead of direct questions about preferences ("Do you like X?"), try open-ended questions that invite narrative: "What's been your most interesting project here?" or "What's something you’re looking forward to this summer?" Stories reveal values and priorities that might otherwise remain hidden. 3. Test different currencies of appreciation. Some people value public recognition, others prefer private acknowledgment. Try different approaches to see which resonates. When you find what they value, you've found a key to connection. 4. Seek insight from their trusted #allies. Who does this person seem to connect with naturally? Without gossiping, you might say to that colleague, "I notice you and Shira work well together. I'd love to collaborate more effectively with her - any insights on how she prefers to communicate?" Remember: When someone seems "unlockable," it doesn't mean they're deliberately withholding the combination. They may not even realize they seem inaccessible. Approach with genuine curiosity rather than frustration. The most important combination to this lock? Patience paired with positive intent. Building connection takes time, especially with those who don't immediately reveal what makes them tick. #ProfessionalRelationships #WorkplaceCommunication #LeadershipSkills #ConnectionAtWork #Coaching #DEIB