The Power of Connection

The last real conversation I had with my dad changed how I see everything. And I didn’t know it would be our last.

My dad was an accomplished guy. He travelled the world, built a great business, and achieved a long list of successes.

But when he was days away from dying, he didn’t mention any of them.

Not one.

Instead, he talked about people. His friends. His family. The ones who moved him. The stories and experiences they shared.

I always thought he was in love with his slightly obnoxious jet boat. Turns out… it was never about the boat.

It was about the people in it.

That conversation has stayed with me. More than I expected. Because when everything else fades, what’s left is surprisingly simple:

Connection.

Since his passing, I’ve become a bit obsessed with the topic. Not just intellectually but personally. I’ve been trying to understand what actually creates meaningful connection… and where I might be getting it wrong.

It’s led to a talk I’ve been sharing with leadership groups like YPO, TEC and MacKay; including one my longtime mentor Dr. Ohlhauser invited me to speak to in Vancouver last week.

A few things stand out.

First, the research is hard to ignore. Isolation increases the risk of premature death by more than 25%.

Connection doesn’t just make life better… it helps keep us alive.

And in the workplace, the impact is just as significant. Teams that feel connected see less turnover, less absenteeism, and meaningfully higher productivity and profitability. Having a close friend at work can increase productivity sevenfold.

Connection isn’t a “soft skill.” It’s a strategic advantage.

Which makes the current moment a bit of a paradox. We’ve never been more connected… and we’ve never felt more disconnected. We scroll more than we speak. We “like” instead of listen. We trade depth for convenience.

And most of us have never been taught how to build connection. We just wing it.

But if you pay attention to the people who are exceptional at it; the ones with presence, magnetism, and genuine warmth; you start to notice patterns.

Some things they tend to do well:

• In the first few seconds of meeting someone, they’re fully present. They understand that early impressions matter more than we think.
• They let go of the masks. People don’t connect with ego or perfection, they connect with humility and authenticity.
• They don’t enter conversations asking “What can I get?” They ask, “What can I learn?” and “How can I help?”
• They use personal stories about hardship, resilience and purpose, to create something real to connect to.
• They change the environment. Walks, drives, time outside… boat rides… these small shifts often lead to deeper conversations.

None of this is complicated. But it can be intentional. And it’s becoming increasingly rare.

I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. Not just as an idea… but as something I want to be better at. More present. More curious. Less distracted. More willing to slow down when it matters.

So here’s a challenge inspired by the late (great) Rod Smith.

Reach out to someone who matters to you this week.

Not a text. Not a “like.”

Call them. Go for a walk. Sit down for coffee. Grab a pint. Ask a better question. Stay a little longer.

See what happens.

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