I have the great pleasure of guest blogging on FohBoh, The Restaurant Community’s blog and want to share my post from today:

I had the most amazing experience  recently – I did a keynote presentation at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers Operational Development Meeting.  It was a fantastic meeting; trust me when I tell you the Caniac Nation is alive and well.  For me, it was like a homecoming back to the place I began part of my journey to write my book, The Best Shift of Your Life – The Restaurant Manager’s Guide for Success Outside the Restaurant.  I went there to present my book and in return left with some very powerful lessons on life, leadership and making a difference.

Here is one of the lessons I left with – The Power of Connectivity.  Great leaders know how to connect with people.  Think about the world in which you live today.  On any given day you come into contact with untold numbers of people.  However, how many of these people do you really connect with?  Multiply that by the untold number of people you come in contact with online.  How many of those contacts do you create a connection with?  Connectivity is one of the secrets of successful people.  Think about it- successful people always have the “connections” to help them achieve their goals and dreams.  This is not done by luck- it is done by design. 

What struck me about my Raising Cane’s experience was that it was not just about having contact with people, it was truly about making connections.   The difference is that contact is an action – “I contacted so and so.”  Connectivity is about having meaning and purpose – “I connected with Jim and we had a powerful discussion even if it only lasted for a few minutes.”   

Think about a time when you connected with a person and it made a difference in their life or your life.  Think about a time when you connected with an employee and it was just what they needed.  Think about a time when someone connected with you and you shifted your perspective. 

I believe that in our fast-paced, 24/7 information charged world, you can easily slip past the opportunity to make meaningful and purposeful connections.  In the process you could slip past the opportunity to support someone or have someone support you.  Here are a few of my favorite techniques for creating connectivity.

Connecting through a Greeting
1) Hello with eye contact – try this for the next 24 hours look every person you meet in the eye when you say hello.  It is an amazing experience in creating connections even for just a few seconds.
2) Handshakes – you know this one –your handshake speaks louder than your words when connecting with another person.
3) Hugs  - when appropriate a hug is another powerful way of making a connection.
4) Heartfelt Question – “How are you doing?” and then listening for the answer.
5) Harnessing the power of Social Media – reaching out to others to connect.

Keeping the Momentum for Connectivity
1) Authentically be the best you.
2) Actively listen to others.
3) Ask questions with genuine interest.
4) Post meaningful messages to support and connect with others.
5) Send notes through the mail.  Many people do not know that this is one of the most powerful ways to connect because it is often the most under utilized method.

Expanding Your Connections
1) Engage in Community Involvement
2) Volunteer
3) Mentor
4) Blog
5) Take some risk and join a new group either on or offline.


There are millions of ways to connect- the key is to start somewhere and build from there.  The more powerful your connections the more capacity and capabilities you will have to achieve your personal and professional goals.  Start building your connections today!