More than two thousand years ago, the Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote about friendship and human connection in his Nicomachean Ethics, one of the earliest works on what it means to live a good life. He noticed that people form relationships for different reasons. Some are built on usefulness, where each person gets something they need from the other, while others are built on enjoyment. The rarest kind rests on goodwill toward the other person for who they are, and Aristotle saw it as the most lasting. Most working relationships start out as the first kind, and the strongest ones grow into something closer to the last.
We’ve all seen both kinds on our own teams. When people know we care about them as individuals, they trust us enough to be honest, and problems come up while there’s still time to fix them. When the relationship never gets past the basics, we hear the polished version of events instead.
“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”
Connection built on goodwill, the kind Aristotle valued most, has always been part of good leadership, and it’s becoming more important than ever. As technology takes on more of the routine work, the parts of leadership that depend on trust and judgment carry more weight. Teams are also spread across shifts and locations, and much of our communication happens by text and email, so connection takes more intention than it used to. Without it, even a clear vision is hard to get people behind.
Leading with Presence looks at how everyday interactions build connection over time, and how consistency and follow-through shape the way people experience us as leaders. Connected Leadership focuses on getting to know the people we lead as individuals, including the ones we don’t connect with as naturally. Connection in a Digital Age explores how to keep these relationships strong when so much of our communication happens through a screen. Let’s get started!
