We spend a lot of time talking about communication. We attend workshops on it, read books about it, and try to become better speakers and listeners.
Communication matters.
There’s a chance we’re aiming too low.
Recently, while interviewing longtime college basketball coach Donnie Jones for Uncommon Impact, he made a distinction that resonated. He said that many leaders communicate well, but far fewer truly connect. Communication transfers information. Connection builds trust. Communication explains expectations. Connection gives people a reason to follow.
Click to watch Donnie’s remarks:
That brought to mind something Tony Dungy and I wrote years ago in The Mentor Leader. Great leaders aren’t meant to remain distant or aloof. They’re available. They’re approachable. They know the people they lead, and they allow themselves to be known. Those relationships don’t always make leadership easier, but they almost always make it more effective because trust grows where genuine relationships exist.
Connection isn’t another leadership technique. It’s evidence that people matter to us beyond what they can produce.
In a world where it’s easier than ever to send messages, schedule meetings, and stay “connected” digitally, authentic human connection has become increasingly rare.
Maybe that’s why it stands out so much when we experience it.
This week, ask yourself a simple question: Am I merely communicating with the people around me, or am I genuinely connecting with them?
The answer may determine not only what they hear, but whether they trust you enough to follow.
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