Episode 298: Connect First with Dr. Melanie Katzman

On this episode of the program, I’m joined by Dr. Melanie Katzman, the author of Connect First: 52 Simple Ways to Ignite Success, Meaning, and Joy at Work.

Dr. Katzman is a business psychologist and consultant to the world’s top public and private companies, government agencies and nonprofits. She is the founder of Katzman Consulting and a founding partner of the social enterprise Leaders’ Quest.

During our conversation we dive into how her work can help people start connecting first, the role connection plays in how much you can impact someone, the word both of us like to use rather than the word “enough” and much more.

Talking Points

  • How does Melanie help someone break through the bias of connecting first?
  • Melanie talks about the idea of “Got it.”
  • How important was it for Melanie to make sure that the 52 simple ways were all simple?
  • This is what Melanie would say about whether or not engaging your senses has to do with connecting with yourself first
  • Melanie talks about the biases she has noticed beyond the book about what people find in their way to connect and how to solve that
  • This is the word Melanie used instead of enough and follows up discussing the meaning behind both of those words.
  • Why is the idea of apologizing such a key thing to keep in mind?
  • Melanie touches on the difference between “complex” and “complicated”
  • How can you keep fear at bay so you can continue to connect?
  • How does connection play a role in how much you can impact someone?
  • Which was the first of the 52 simple ways that Melanie wrote?

We are naturally wired to connect and when we do biology works for us.

– Dr. Melanie Katzman


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