WHY Most Teams Can Not Connect...(and WHY Culture Suffers)

Hi Team...

Good Morning!

This has been a big week of baseball for me... spending yesterday at the Yankees / Marlins Game... and today, heading back to the ballpark...

The best part of Spring Training is that so many friends are all in the same place- so we really get to connect!

Speaking of connection- isn't that something we all really want and desire?

How many of our words, actions, behaviors are the result of simply trying to connect at a deeper level?

My favorite part about sports is the open, genuine, and real relationships that are born from being in battle together....

What is amazing though is with so many of the players, coaches, and staffers I have worked with through the years, there are times we do not talk (but we do text) for months, and sometimes even years, yet when we meet up it is as if we go right back to the times we in the dugout together..

Instant RE-CONNECTION...

Why?

Well, real connection was built and nurtured years ago.

That is the key.

Real connection + nurturing + caring for the other person = LIFETIME CONNECTION.

This is where most teams and individuals fail. They fail to put their phone down, their agenda aside, and to look at people as people- rather than from the perspective of: WHAT CAN I GET OUT OF THIS PERSON?

That is the roots of genuine, real connection.

So many today just make time for those they can get something from...

AND if that is your approach, be ready to be lonely in the end....

When teams and individuals make it about themselves, all of the time, or, the majority of the time... isolation is not far behind.

This is WHY so many Companies & Teams are built on false relationships. Built on fake connection. There is really no trust. No calls to genuinely see how somebody is doing once they leave the Organization.

It is truly agenda based, objective based coexistence. 

This makes it difficult to win.

If you are not sure about the guy or gal next to you, well, how can you possibly trust them to help you win or be your wingman when the pressure elevates?

It is hard.

I know it can be harder than ever today to truly connect... but do yourself a favor and do it anyway...

Take some time today and think about who you can RE-CONNECT with from your present or past... and take a genuine interest in them....

Do not just dump all of your thoughts and emotions on the other person....

Ask them questions...

Listen.

Care.

I guarantee you the connection will strengthen.

This also works for all of those relationships in your life that are personal or professional that you may have regret about, or, are not the most proud of where they are at currently, or, even how they ended....

CONNECT.

When you do, everything changes.

Connectivity improves.

Culture improves.

YOU will have a greater sense of security, clarity, support, and freedom.

Ok- off to breakfast for me with one of those long time friends now!

Go get it!

Your Coach,

COACH DANA CAVALEA