Good leadership is one of the key factors that will make an organization prosper. A combination of connection and authority is what makes a good leader. It is therefore important that organizational leaders develop and improve their connection skills.
There are several cases where managers have failed to become good leaders. This is mainly due to poor connection skills. They therefore need some help in developing the necessary leadership skills that will help them improve their connection with people.a
Below are the 10 ways to improve your connection skills.
Appreciate varying connection needs
This is the first thing in the 10 ways to improve your connection skills. It is important to acknowledge the fact that people have varying inclinations in terms of feeling connected or not. An action will also make people to react in different ways whether they feel connected or not. You are therefore required to learn about, and understand the people that you lead and then gear your behavior in order to connect in response to different individuals and what you have learned about them.
Avoid dwelling much on negatives and emphasize more on positives
Good connection where there is affirmation and recognition. People like to feel recognized, so find a way of affirming and serving others. Do not just affirm them, but identify their strengths in both tasks and character. These strengths are exhibited by a person’s excellence in work and the way they go about their daily work respectively.
Pay attention while conversing
For any good relationship, there need to be complete attention from both parties. You need to be present in conversations by paying full attention to what is being said.
Make the person feel your presents by asking questions. Go further to asking follow up questions to seek some clarification. Pay attention to body language and facial expression. Avoid things like looking around, switching your mind to other things or checking your phone. This is because they serve to break the connection.
Control your voice tone
The way your message will be delivered has more effect than the message itself. People react more on how the message is delivered even before they hear the content of the message. A harsh, rough or a rasping voice will make a person to react negatively. This may serve to put up a wall between you and them as they will feel threatened. A polite tone would serve better.
Have empathy; develop that ability to empathize
People around us will always have emotions. People will feel connected to you when you have empathy towards them when they need it. They will feel connected when you feel their emotions. Feeling their positive emotion will enhance the positive emotion that they are feeling. When you share in their pain, the pain will diminish. It is natural for anyone to feel an emotion when someone else expresses it.
When negotiating, have a mindset of solving a problem, not winning
Exhibiting and maintaining the right mindset with the people while you are negotiating will help build good connections. Do not take the people you are negotiating with as your rivals. This is because it will lead to mistrust and suspicion, hence bringing about disconnection. You need to try to find a means of finding a win-win solution. This will require some patience, perseverance, probing and understanding of others’ perceptions and objectives
Admit your mistake.
No one is perfect, we all make mistakes but what makes the difference is when we apologize. It is hard for many people to say sorry. A mistake destroys a connection but once we apologize, the connection will be rebuilt.
Give the people you are leading autonomy in performing tasks
It is good to monitor the progress of those reporting to you, but give them some autonomy. Do not be too inclined to rules and conditions. Be there when they need some clarifications. This will enhance personal growth and serve to meet the human need for independence and autonomy.
Keep in mind and apply the 5 languages of appreciation
These languages include; gifts, acts of service, words of affirmation and quality time.
Ask your juniors about the times they have been recognized at workplace. Learn their primary and secondary appreciation languages.
Learn the difference between social and relationship skills and develop them
Having social skills is an excellent way that one can develop good connections. It is also important to have relationship skills as they will help to create strong connections with people. Things like regularly spend time with friends, sharing in their joy and pain and being there for them when they need you will lead to deeper and stronger connections with people.
It is important to note that good connections will lead to greater productivity, healthy and happiness.
Use the above 10 ways to improve your connection skills, Start connecting today and then see what will happen. Be ready for a great positive impact in your life.