Episode Title:  Turn connections into relationships, and relationships into INFLUENCE! Author/Entrepreneur Susan McPherson Episode 191

THIS WEEK’S TOPIC:

In this week’s episode, we’re talking about the power of effective connection — and specifically how to create smart, thoughtful strategies to help us build influence, achieve personal and professional objectives, and to live a happier, more engaged existence. 

Now you may be saying, “wait, I already connect with people all the time.”  While I’m sure that’s true, do you connect with the objective aimed at actually forging and deeping a relationship? And is connecting with people something that you benchmark along with other areas in your life that you measure. 

For most of us, it’s not. 

TODAY’S GUEST: My guest today is Susan McPherson. Susan is the author of a terrific book called “The Lost Art of Connecting: the Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships.” 

I loved this conversation with Susan — as well as her terrific book — and I think you will too. One reason is because she talks about the power of connecting as part of personal and professional growth objectives, and ones that we can measure and manage toward just like other benchmarks. And of course, things we measure tend to be the things that get done, because it’s what we’re paying attention to. 

Susan talks about how making a genuine connection sparks learning, reduces burnout, spurs innovation, and creates a sense of purpose and well-being — it also combats loneliness. For many people that’s been especially present the past couple of years. 

I would add that connection is also an essential component needed to build and sustain influence. 

In addition to being an author, Susan is also the founder of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy that focuses on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is also a prominent public speaker, and a regular contributor to the Harvard Business REview, Fast Company Magazine and Forbes, among many others. She’s been described as a “super connector!” by friends and colleagues — including author and organizational psychology expert and Wharton Professor Adam Grant. 

KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE: 

THE POWER OF CONNECTION and why it really matters for your life and career

SUSAN’S 3-PART APPROACH: “Gather, Ask, Do”

NETWORKING is not necessarily the same as CONNECTING, but connection in the way that Susan discusses will no doubt make your networking efforts more successful. 

HOW SUSAN’S APPROACH TO CONNECTING HELPED HER BUILD HER BUSINESS and created almost 90 percent of its business from inbound clients — meaning folks coming to her. 

HOW YOU CAN INCREASE THE POWER OF YOUR CONNECTIONS with PREPARATION

THE MAGIC OF A SINGLE, SIMPLE QUESTION: “What can I do to help?”

“ATOMIC HABITS” applied to connecting

PLEASE SEND ME SOME FEEDBACK

I’d love to hear what you thought about the episode, and about Susan’s perspective. Is Susan’s three-part strategy “gather, ask, do” something that you might incorporate into your own life? Send me a DM or a quick note and let me know. You can reach me on Instagram, Linked In or Facebook at @LauraCoxKaplan or via our website at she said/she said podcast .com 

PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW! 

Also, Friend, if you found this episode a valuable and helpful investment in YOU, please leave a REVIEW! And be sure to share us on your social media and tag me Laura Cox Kaplan

Until next week, take care. 

EPISODE LINKS: 

Susan’s book: “The Lost Art of Connecting: the Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships” 

About Susan McPherson

“Atomic Habits” by James Clear

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