Connect First: 52 Simple Ways to Ignite Success, Meaning, and Joy at Work

Book description

WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER

A renowned business psychologist, advisor, and consultant to the world’s leading companies reveals the key to greater success, meaning, and joy at work

Technology has enabled us to be more interconnected today than ever before. So why do so many of us feel isolated and undervalued at work? Why does it feel like something is missing? It doesn’t have to be this way. In these rapidly changing, challenging times, how do we—YOU—develop the intuition, self-awareness, and interpersonal agility required to prosper?

Here’s what we’ve lost track of: organizations are run by people, and people run on emotions. Strong relationships are the bedrock of lasting success, meaning, and joy at work. In this life-changing guide, Dr. Melanie Katzman shows you an impactful approach to connect first as fellow humans, then as coworkers and colleagues, to forge the deep bonds that make a significant difference. Learn how to:

Establish respect and make others feel valued
Engage all of your senses to create a truly inclusive culture
Become popular and be the person everyone wants to work with
Grow loyalty by making it about them—your coworkers
Resolve conflicts by remaining curious and open with others
Fight fear (and prepare for the future) by stepping outside your comfort zone and experimenting with new ideas
Have a big impact by leveraging your platform, living your values, and leading the change

Dr. Katzman presents 52 actions you can take immediately to create a deeply rewarding work life by connecting to yourself, your organization, and the world at large. These are the same powerful techniques she has used with leaders and employees at the world’s top companies to enhance productivity and foster fulfillment and joy at work—the hallmarks of true success.


Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. CONTENTS
  6. PREFACE
  7. PART I ESTABLISH RESPECT
    1. 1 SMILE Activate Immediate Connection
    2. 2 SAY “PLEASE” It Implies Freedom to Comply (or Not)
    3. 3 SAY “THANK YOU” The People You Neglect Can Undermine Your Success
    4. 4 CALL PEOPLE BY THEIR NAMES Ignite Attention and Recognize Individuality
    5. 5 OFFER PRAISE Pride Is Rocket Fuel
    6. 6 GOT IT? THEN SAY SO! Help Coworkers Manage Their Time
    7. 7 PROVIDE FEEDBACK It Benefits Everyone
  8. PART II ENGAGE ALL OF YOUR SENSES
    1. 8 SEE EVERYBODY Those on the Margins Often Have Greater Perspective
    2. 9 LISTEN TO INSPIRE Deepen the Conversation by Responding Without Words
    3. 10 SILENCE Be Quiet Together
    4. 11 TOUCH It Transforms an Interaction
    5. 12 EAT TOGETHER Food Is Bait for Conversation and Creates Connection
  9. PART III BECOME POPULAR
    1. 13 BE PRESENT Showing Up Is Just the Start
    2. 14 SHARE INFORMATION News Is a Virtual Valium
    3. 15 BE A MAGNET Become the Person People Want to Be With
    4. 16 KNOW HOW TO ENTER First Impressions Stick
    5. 17 TELL STORIES Connect by Hacking Your Colleagues’ Right Brains
    6. 18 DON’T JUST DO SOMETHING, SIT THERE! Luxuriate in Not Having an Immediate Solution
    7. 19 CHALLENGE NEGATIVE THINKING Stop Noise Pollution
    8. 20 HAVE A POINT OF VIEW Cultivate an Informed Perspective
    9. 21 YOU DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE RIGHT Trust Me on This, I’m Not Wrong
  10. PART IV GROW LOYALTY
    1. 22 ENSURE ROLE CLARITY Provide the Context and Permission
    2. 23 CONNECT JOBS TO THE LARGER MISSION There’s Always a Why
    3. 24 OFFER THE GIFT OF TIME We All Have Too Much to Do
    4. 25 KNOW WHEN YOU ARE DONE Clear Goals Enable You to Declare “Finished”
    5. 26 THERE’S PLENTY FOR EVERYONE! Assume an Abundance—Not Scarcity—Mentality
    6. 27 BANK SOCIAL COLLATERAL Give Now to Succeed in the Future
    7. 28 STROKE THEIR NARCISSISM All Egos Need a Little Love
    8. 29 CREATE RITUALS Celebrate Success and Grow from Mistakes
    9. 30 GENERATE JOY AND LAUGHTER Energize Your Workplace
  11. PART V RESOLVE CONFLICT
    1. 31 STAND IN SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES Experience Their Point of View
    2. 32 DECODE YOUR COLLEAGUES’ EMOTIONAL CLUES They’re the Key to Connection and Success
    3. 33 APOLOGIZE Don’t Justify or Explain Why
    4. 34 ACCEPT THAT YOU WON’T BE UNDERSTOOD Sometimes the System Isn’t Ready for Your Ideas
    5. 35 NEGOTIATE A PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTRACT Mutually Commit to Extreme Honesty
    6. 36 ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF The Discomfort Will Be Worth It
    7. 37 NAME THE ELEPHANT It’s Taking Up Way Too Much Room
    8. 38 BE A SIMPLIFIER, NOT A COMPLICATOR Make Precision Execution Seem Easy
  12. PART VI FIGHT FEAR
    1. 39 STEP OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE Being a Little Terrified Is Good for You
    2. 40 INVITE OTHERS IN Take the First Step
    3. 41 BE A GRACIOUS HOST Tackling the Hard Stuff Is Easier When Everyone Is Comfortable
    4. 42 BE A PERSON FIRST! Help Strangers Feel Less Strange
    5. 43 FOCUS ON FACILITATION Boost the Quality of Conversations by Attending to Details
    6. 44 BUILD A BRIDGE Connect Through Nonwork Interests and Experiences
    7. 45 CREATE THE GROUP YOU WANT TO BE PART OF There’s Energy and Power in Numbers
    8. 46 BE PRACTICALLY OPTIMISTIC Instill Hope
  13. PART VII HAVE A BIG IMPACT
    1. 47 EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN The Future Depends on It
    2. 48 HONOR HISTORY Let the Past Propel You Forward
    3. 49 EMBRACE AGING AT WORK 60 Is the New 30
    4. 50 LEVERAGE YOUR PLATFORM Make a Difference
    5. 51 CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO Unleash Intergenerational Energy
    6. 52 DREAM AUDACIOUSLY Move Beyond Success to Significance
  14. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  15. REFERENCES
  16. INDEX
  17. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Product information

  • Title: Connect First: 52 Simple Ways to Ignite Success, Meaning, and Joy at Work
  • Author(s): Melanie Katzman
  • Release date: October 2019
  • Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
  • ISBN: 9781260457841