I’m really terrible at taking pictures—so you’ll just have to accept my photo of the program instead. But the real story isn’t in the picture anyways, it’s in the conversations.
Last night, I attended Omaha’s ICAN 7x7x7: seven speakers, seven topics, seven minutes each. I went in with zero expectations. I left… thinking a lot.
Every speaker shared something different about leadership, yet there was a thread that connected them all, human connection. It wasn’t a planned a thread, but one that I picked up on based on what was shared.
Whether it was learning to stay calm while leading, trusting our instincts, or showing compassion and belief in others, each story pointed back to the same truth:
When we connect as humans first, through conversations, art, and emotions, then is when we can increase performance and trust.
But here’s what I keep thinking about: If connection is the common denominator of great leadership, why do we keep trying to standardize how it looks?
So much of what we create through models, frameworks, and “best practices” for leading people, is developed as if connection comes from a checklist.But genuine connection doesn’t need uniformity; it needs presence. What works for one team or culture might completely miss the mark for another.
For instance, we often talk about authenticity as being bold or outspoken, but what about when authenticity is quiet? We praise leaders for hosting informal, relationship-building conversations, but what about those who lead and connect best through focus, consistency, or shared problem-solving?
Connection isn’t a single language. It’s a dialogue and one that sounds different depending on who’s in the room.
The ways we connect may differ, but the results are the same, stronger teams, better performance, more trust. We don’t have to lead the same way to make an impact. We just have to lead with connection in mind.
Leadership isn’t about perfecting a model, it’s about paying attention to people. Maybe connection looks different for each of us because it’s meant to. How does it look for you?
