The Connection Blueprint (Author Interview)



https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735028304


What inspired you when writing The Connection Blueprint?   

I was talking to a well-respected business leader about increasing team productivity and finding ways to authentically engage team members at work.

This leader is highly regarded within the company and the business community and has a good rapport with her team. Still, she knew her employees weren't always open about their concerns or requests, even in one-on-one meetings.

This led to a discussion of the value, or lack of value, of the employee one-on-one.

On average, managers spend 600 minutes per month in these meetings!

Other than status updates, which can be done online, what's the point?

89% of people want to meet with their manager at least monthly, BUT ONLY 73% do.

We began discussing good questions that she could ask. Questions that genuinely create engagement and openness. It's not easy.

“Can you just give me a list of questions? I don’t have time to think of these each week!”

YES! An easy guide for leaders at all levels to leverage effective one-on-one meetings.

So, I set out to do that, but The Connection Blueprint became more as we realized how much #ConnectionsMatter.

 

What will readers get out of your book?

It’s more than just a how-to; The Connection Blueprint actually does the heavy lifting for managers by providing over 150 engagement-driving questions, monthly check-point discussions, and 50 situation-specific discussion points for 27 common management goals & issues.

Additionally, we discuss important topics, including new employee engagement, virtual employee engagement, and best practices. Readers benefit from both leadership skill-building and a valuable resource for managers at all levels to refer to over and over.

After reading the book, you may be surprised to find that your one-on-one meeting preparation may only take 5 minutes for each team member.

 

Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when writing The Connection Blueprint?

A couple of challenges come to mind – (1) The time commitment it took to complete the book while running a consulting business and (2) Organizing the ideas in a way that was super easy to use and accessible for leaders. 

 

How did you come up with the ideas and concepts in The Connection Blueprint?

I started collecting questions about 15 years ago as I started observing the impact of leaders engaging their employees with regular one-on-ones using great questions. These were shared in leadership coaching and leadership training sessions, where I received feedback on one-on-ones and the best questions. I learned what was working and what was not!

Then it was about aligning these questions with the leadership concepts that have provided solid development for 1000s of leaders over the past 25+ years.  

Engaging employees well is about how you ask questions and the sincerity behind wanting to get to know someone. Your time invested creates significant value when you ask thought-provoking and insightful questions rather than just go over your to-do list.   

 

Can you tell us a little about your background?

As a leadership development consultant who works with many Fortune 500 companies, I work with individuals, teams, and organizations to improve performance in leadership, teamwork, and communication delivering customized programs and solutions through keynote speaking, training programs, offsite meetings, and individual coaching sessions.

Staying at the forefront of talent and leadership development is imperative for providing insight and programs for team leadership, virtual team building, and connection-building, which successfully translate to increased employee engagement and productivity.

I wrote The Connection Blueprint for leaders and organizations because now, more than ever, #ConnectionsMatter.


Where can readers find out more about your work?

Readers can mind out more on my website:  https://www.nodus1.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn @nodus-inc. for the most up-to-date information.