The Importance of Meaningful Connections - Igor Poza
No man is an island — no statement holds truer when speaking of personal and professional development. Many individuals, including myself, attribute numerous positive outcomes in their lives to the strong networking channels created over time. The most connected people are usually the most successful. Investing time and effort into relationships can be rewarding throughout your life. Networking has numerous benefits — you can meet mentors, can access important resources, develop a holistic cultural understanding, and improve your existing skillset.
I recently read The Connectors Advantage by Michelle Tillis Lederman. After reflecting on the contents and evaluating how networking has affected my personal and professional life, I further understood the value of creating meaningful connections.
According to an article published about the book, Michelle Tillis Lederman has curated connections and includes expert advice from over two dozen authors, coaches, and business owners including Marshall Goldsmith, Dorie Clark, Ivan Misner, Susan RoAnn, and more. Regardless of your goal―a job, a promotion, new business, a referral―who you know and who knows you will lead to opportunities. It is the strength of your relationships that leads to your success.
Having moved around my entire career — from Paris to Hong Kong to now New York City — I am no stranger to the concept of starting over. Moving to a new city, embracing a new culture, understanding and imbibing norms, and further breaking out of the bubble and making a new place home is not always easy. One clear step has always proved to be my biggest tool in doing so — creating connections and building a meaningful network. It is not always simple and requires one to break out of their comfort zone — but the benefits are far beyond any discomfort the process may cause. Making those human connections always allowed me to settle down in a new city. The people make the place, and connecting with the people was always my top priority.
In my experience, creating meaningful connections has three major benefits:
1. Connecting with people on a human level
2. Creating avenues toward new business opportunities
3. Accelerating current goals and creating new goals
Seeking support, connections, and a strong and trustworthy network is not a sign of weakness — instead, it is a symbol of strength. By sharing experiences, thoughts, and ideas, we link ourselves to one another, and by linking, we eventually connect. As I once read somewhere, a connection is a hopeful process that can balance our lives and allow for joy to emerge.
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About Igor Poza: Igor is a Global Brand and Teambuilder in Luxury Leather Goods and Cosmetics with 25+ years of comprehensive experience, both in headquarters and subsidiaries of Multi-billion Fortune 500, Family-owned businesses, and private equity-owned startups. He has expertise in multi-channel retail and multicultural management. His cultural intelligence allows him to bring people together and transform businesses. He currently serves as the Chief Commercial Officer at Mansur Gavriel.
