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The Lost Art of Connecting

summary ofThe Lost Art of ConnectingBook by Susan McPherson

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You’ll learn

  • Secrets to quickly building trust
  • How to fight social awkwardness
  • Ways gratitude enhances relationships
  • Whether introverts can be great at connecting

first KEY POINT

You build meaningful relationships when you understand the importance of everyone around you

How do you make it easy to form relationships? Relationship building boils down to one fundamental realization: How can you help? When you ask people how you can assist them, it quickly narrows your attention to how you can work with them. It helps people understand your intentions, and it gives them a good reason to count on you.Many people want to have deep connections in love, family, and friendship, yet these same individuals are expected to act aloof in workplaces, which is wrong. It's normal to have deep emotional alliances within and outside your workplace.

Relationships should never be about what you can gain from people, but rather about what you can learn, discover, or connect another person with.

Before you can even think of how to go about developing meaningful connections with others, you should discover a deep and important relationship with yourself. Ask yourself what is essential to you. What you find in the process of self-knowing may not be relevant to others, and that is absolutely normal. You must be honest with yourself; you don't have to interact with everyone on the earth to form meaningful connections. To best define how to establish meaningful business relationships, Susan McPherson has created a three-step method — gather, ask, and do — and this tidbit succinctly explains each step. The following chapters will assist you in defining what significant relationships mean to you. You will also learn to identify those who share not only your beliefs and vision but also those who push you, uncover your character flaws and extend the variety and depth of your connections, and how to cultivate meaningful and fulfilling connections. This tidbit is great for employers who wish to modify how they interact with their workforce to get better outcomes.

second KEY POINT

Genuine connections foster learning, information exchange, creativity, and a feeling of purpose and well-being

A transactional nature often characterizes business connections. Many individuals are so preoccupied with working for others that they forget to work with them, resulting in the development of professional associations and the neglect of emotional ones.In many cases, people have no clue how to create the circumstances for relationships to grow in their business organizations, whether physical or digital. This is particularly true when it comes to interactions with prospective partners. If you suffer from this problem, the first thing you need to do is gather meaningful information and tips about yourself and others. One of the most effective ways to do this is to refocus the objectives of conventional networking by concentrating on what is in front of you. People you know, present talents, and existing connections all need you to give them more physical attention than they have received thus far, as this helps you relate with them on a personal level.Do not undervalue the importance of contacts not directly relevant to your company’s goal. Reach out to your present network of friends and colleagues and ask them about the difficulties they are experiencing. Ask them how you can assist or support them; you will establish yourself as an asset, a reliable resource for others.You have a far more significant following than you think, so don't restrict your professional relationships to those you work with. You can make connections and partnerships in unexpected places when you expand your current networks. The greater the number of individuals you know, the better.

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first KEY POINT

One of the best ways to create lasting relationships is by asking people how you can help them

second KEY POINT

We can have meaningful connections even if we are introverted, provided we appreciate the power of helping others

third KEY POINT

Criticism and feedback should encourage the receiver to put more effort into their work

fourth KEY POINT

When people don't follow up quickly and effectively, they end up losing meaningful relationships

fifth KEY POINT

Conclusion

About the author

Susan McPherson is a connector and strategic communicator. With over thirty years in marketing and PR, she infuses her extensive experience into empowering others through impactful communication and sustainable business practices.

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Frequently asked questions

What is The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships about?

The Lost Art of Connecting by Susan McPherson emphasizes the importance of authentic relationships in business. It presents the Gather, Ask, Do method to foster connections through intentional engagement, addressing the growing need for meaningful interactions in a digital age.

What are the key takeaways from The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships?

Key takeaways include understanding the significance of networking through genuine connections, leveraging curiosity to ask impactful questions, and taking action to strengthen relationships. The book encourages readers to move beyond transactional networking to build lasting and fruitful partnerships.

Is The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships worth reading?

Absolutely, The Lost Art of Connecting is worth reading for anyone looking to enhance their interpersonal skills in business. Susan McPherson provides actionable strategies and insights that can transform networking from surface-level interactions into meaningful connections.

How many pages is The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships and when was it published?

The Lost Art of Connecting is 224 pages long and was published on August 3, 2021. This makes it a concise yet impactful read for those interested in personal and professional relationship-building.

Who is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships?

The author of The Lost Art of Connecting is Susan McPherson, a recognized expert in building purposeful connections and advancing corporate responsibility. Her experience and insights add significant value to the book's approach to networking.