Technology is changing at breakneck speed, but one thing remains the same: people need other people. In my previous article, I wrote that humanity continues to make the difference. One word in particular stuck with me: connection. That is why I really want to reflect on it now.
You can learn to connect
Connection sounds like something subtle, something that’s either there or it isn’t. After twenty years in the recruitment industry, I know that’s not the case. It’s a skill that you can learn and must keep practising. My NLP training has given me one of my most important insights in this regard: everyone views the world through the lens of their own experiences, beliefs and values. What is self-evident to one person may mean something completely different to another.
My role is not to try to draw someone into my reality. First, I want to understand how the other person sees things. What have they been through? What do they consider important? And what meaning do they attach to certain words? Only then does there become room for a genuine connection.
Listening to what isn’t said
In our line of work, we find ourselves caught between two worlds. On the one hand, there is a professional with ambitions and doubts; on the other, an organisation facing a challenge, with a team and a culture. Both often tell only part of their story. This isn’t down to a lack of willingness. It’s simply difficult to put into words what you’re really looking for.
When a client says “someone who fits in with our team”, I ask for clarification. Are they looking for someone who brings a sense of calm? Someone who isn’t afraid to speak up? Or someone who complements the team? These are three very different profiles hidden behind the same phrase. I help candidates pinpoint exactly what they need to be successful. And I help clients articulate what they’re really looking for, even if it isn’t entirely clear yet. As soon as both sides feel understood, trust is built.
Organising a connection
At Improven, we literally create space for connection. We organise meetings and round-table sessions where industry peers can meet and learn from one another. One of our best-known events is Friends to the Firm, a gathering for the self-employed professionals we’ve been working with for years and with whom we carry out client assignments. It’s not us on stage there, but the people who actually do the work. The consultants and freelancers speak candidly about their assignments: what challenges did they face, and what would they do differently in hindsight? It is precisely this openness that ensures people really get to know one another, rather than just each other’s CVs.
What connection demands of us
Building connections takes time, and that is precisely what we have the least of in a rapidly changing world. It also requires vulnerability: having the courage to ask questions, to express doubts, and to admit that a match might not be right. But it yields something no tool can replicate: people who know that someone is really listening to them.
That’s why, for me, connection isn’t just a by-product of recruitment. It is recruitment. I’d love to have that conversation with you too. Whether you’re a client or a consultant, I’d be happy to make time for a cup of coffee. Not to tell you what we can do, but to hear where you’re at and what you’re looking for. The best partnerships rarely start with a vacancy or an assignment, but usually with a good conversation. Feel free to send me a message – I’d love to get to know you.
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