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How Queen Elizabeth I Used Connection to Restore a Nation

Queen Elizabeth I of England

One of the greatest turnaround stories in all of history is also one of the most unlikely. It is the story of Queen Elizabeth I, a twenty-five-year-old woman who inherited the throne of England in 1558 having no leadership experience, faced prejudice in a time when women were considered grossly inferior to men, and lived with frequent threats of death. Despite these obstacles, she overcame the odds and led her country from near financial ruin to one of the most powerful kingdoms on earth. She is a timeless example of how a leader can connect with people and bring out the best in them.

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Why You May Not Be Connecting with Others

5 Gears Book Cover

We connect with some people and not with others. Great leaders master how to connect with just about everyone and that’s one reason why people want to follow them.

There are many facets to connection. Jeremie Kubicek and Steve Cockram have written an excellent book titled 5 Gears: How to Be Present and Productive When There is Never Enough Time that provides insight into an important aspect of connection.

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How Lafayette, an “Outsider,” Won the Allegiance of His Team

Marquis de Lafayette

If you’ve ever been hired into a leadership role, you know how difficult it can be to lead when you are viewed as an “outsider.” It’s crucial to establish trust and connection with your new colleagues quickly, but how?

Leaders who find themselves in this challenging position can look to a widely unknown example from the American Revolution for inspiration and guidance: Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette, more commonly known as the Marquis de Lafayette.

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Hold “Stop-Start-Continue” Meetings With Your Team

Business Discussion

#100 Begin “Stop-Start-Continue” Meetings

Periodically hold “stop-start-continue” meetings to review your team’s activities. During these meetings, identify the activities your team should start that you are not presently doing, current activities that your team should stop doing, and activities that your team should continue doing. “Stop-start-continue” meetings give your team an opportunity to voice their thoughts on projects and enhance connection.

This is the one hundredth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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Read a Book With Your Team Quarterly

Books

#99 Read a Book Together Quarterly

Periodically select a business book for your direct reports or team members to read together. Consider reading one book every quarter. Meet or host a video call to identify ideas from the book that you can implement. Some examples include The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, Pour Your Heart Into It, and It’s Not About the Coffee.

This is the ninety-ninth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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3 Lessons from the Attack on Amazon

Amazon Building Entrance

The Sunday New York Times article on Amazon’s workplace culture has generated all kinds of buzz. Most commentators join the attack, while some defend Amazon’s practices. The stories are all over the map, from branding Amazon as an evil empire to describing its culture as one that’s apropos for an challenging entrepreneurial trail-blazer.

What are we to believe and what does this controversy say about the modern workplace?

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To Connect, Seek Individual Ideas and Opinions

Listening

#98 Seek Individual Ideas and Opinions

When possible, ask for the ideas and opinions of your direct reports, especially on actions you expect them to implement or believe they want to have a voice in deciding. This behavior reflects humility and wisdom.

This is the ninety-eighth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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To Connect With Others, Don’t Interrupt

Communicating Through Tin Can and String

#97 Give People Time to Finish Speaking Before You Begin

Make sure there is a pause in the conversation so that you don’t cut someone off from what they were trying to communicate. Don’t interrupt!

This is the ninety-seventh post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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Treat People as Partners

Excluded

#96 Treat People as Partners

Treat people as equals. Never speak down to anyone or intentionally ignore him or her.

This is the ninety-sixth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

Image courtesy of Markus Spiske/raumrot.com. Creative Commons 2.0 license.