Creating Space for Connection
By: Suzanne Weller
One of the things that I create space for every day is connecting with people. It literally feeds my soul.
I am a social beast. There are few things that I enjoy more than learning about people and ultimately discovering more about myself as a result.
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But please know: This doesn’t mean I am constantly surrounded by people, or don’t spend time on my own. Alone time gives me a lot as well, and I recognize my need to balance my days with time to connect with both others and myself. The ratios change, depending on what’s happening and the work in front of me.
I sit down every Monday to reflect on what worked last week, what I’d like to change in the week ahead, and have an honest conversation with myself about what’s realistic. It’s almost like creating a “connection recipe” that results in satisfaction and joy, rather than exhaustion or loneliness.
When I moved to running my own business full-time, I gave myself weekly goals for “reach-outs,” which stemmed from a number of things:
- To prevent the loneliness that can happen as a solopreneur.
- To learn and spark new thinking.
- To stay on top of what’s happening in the various communities and industries I plug into.
- To give and receive support and perspective.
- To get (or stay) on people’s radar.
- To think/talk about possibilities around partnerships.
- To inject a good shot of fun into my work and life.
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For business purposes, this feeds into my networking plan. But it goes beyond that.
When I am intentional about how I connect with others and myself, it allows me to tap into where I am right now, and where I want to be in a week, month, year, etc. It ensures I’m taking care of my emotional health. That I know what connection brings me, and how it has the potential to take away from me if I give too much.
It goes beyond building connective tissue — it creates community. Weaving together a network of knowledge, friendship, expertise, and support.
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Suzanne Weller partners with clients to maximize talent, transform organizations and teams, and lead from a human-centered place. Find out more at www.wellercollaboration.com and discover more blog posts at https://wellercollaboration.com/blog-media.
Originally published at https://www.ellevatenetwork.com.
