Building Authentic Connections: The Engagement Edge
- Lesley Herald
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 7
This month, I'm diving into a topic that's foundational to leadership success: building authentic connections.
Whether you are leading a small team or growing an organization, these tips can help you build trust, drive engagement, and elevate your team's performance.
Key Insights
Leaders who demonstrate vulnerability and authenticity see 76% higher employee engagement and 50% lower turnover compared to those who take a "command and control" approach.
As we've entered the second half of the year, many organizations are reassessing their engagement strategies and preparing for mid-year performance conversations. This month, we're exploring how authentic leadership drives both individual and organization success.
The research is clear. Organizations with highly effective leaders are significantly more likely to achieve their business objectives. When leaders prioritize building strong relationships with their teams, it builds trust, boosts engagement, and drives positive results for the bottom line.
Learn from my experience:
Early in my career as a leader, I stepped in to a challenging role with the expectation to bring an underperforming operation in line with company standards. Feeling overwhelmed, I went in to task mode, focusing on fixing processes rather than building relationships. I didn't take the time to get to know my team and as a result, progress was much slower and the path forward far more difficult. That experience taught me this important lesson: Taking time to connect with your team upfront isn't optional. It is essential.
Whether you are new to your role or looking to elevate your leadership, check out the simple routines I've outlined below. Give them a try and see what shifts.
- Lesley
⚙ Actionable Strategy: The Connection Framework
This Month's Challenge
How do you build genuine connections with your team while maintaining professional boundaries and driving results?
The Solution Framework
Assess: Do you know your team members' motivations and challenges?
Align: Connect individual goals with team and organization goals.
Act: Implement regular 1:1 check-ins focused on growth
Amplify: Share successes and learnings across the organization.
✓ 3 Things To Do This Week
Momentum Monday: Send a personalized note to a team member to recognize a recent contribution.
Wisdom Wednesday: Ask your team "What's one thing we should start, stop, or continue doing to improve our teamwork?"
Focus Friday: Reflect on one leadership challenge you faced this week and identify one lesson you learned.
Download a word document version of this newsletter here:
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