Radical Connectedness
Author: Tealee A. Brown| Artwork By: Kinga Barcs
For me, I view it as truly amazing that a mutual interest/goal can bring together women from all corners of the globe and facilitate true friendship amongst human bodies that would have never dreamed of meeting or interacting with each other.
Radical connectedness for us at EXPEERTS.club means that we approach connecting with each other with intentionality, awareness, and full-on commitment.
A World of Connections
As most people very commonly put it, “It’s not about who you know, but about who knows you”. We live in a world that thrives on connection and interrelations -especially connection and interrelations with the ‘right people’. Getting and staying connected to the right people is why we are hooked to our phones and computers, it is why we attend the particular events we attend, it is why we want to get into certain spaces, it is why we want to meet certain people -get to know them and have them know us.
On Making Connections
Making connections may sound like a similarly small and simple thing. However, experts reprimand that it is in fact a “learned skill” and a “process that takes time”. Over the last two years, I have been in a space where it is ingrained into people that when we get the chance to connect, we must view it as an opportunity. An opportunity to make a memorable impression, an opportunity to pave the way for more beneficial interactions in the future, an opportunity to sell ourselves- in terms of our exceptional abilities and capabilities. I realize that we are encouraged to approach making connections this way because the world today relies so much on referrals. Individuals, organizations, companies and everybody are more reliant on and trustful/confident of the people referred to them by people they already know and trust. Thus, the more “right people” you connect with and make a memorable impression on, the better chances you have of getting that job you want so badly now or in the future, the higher chances you have at landing that travel or scholarship opportunity, the higher your chances of making that partnership and so forth. Additionally, through these beneficial connections (also referred to as “networks”), we can also get the opportunity to help others.
For me, personally, this approach to making connections has always sounded and felt like a task. As I like to say, “I cannot listen to music I do not feel and genuinely enjoy” and in a way, the same goes for people. I cannot and never have been able to connect with people to who I do not feel a true and genuine connection. Because I am wired to desire more than just surface-level connections, I have always made it my goal to approach making connections from an “agenda-free” standpoint. For me, life is about connections above and beyond careers. If I am to constantly communicate and stay in touch with someone, I want to connect with him/her on a personal level; I want to create a deep meaning relationship with them; I want to create a space where that person feels seen and heard because all of these are things that increase a person’s commitment to want to show up.
I believe that when we approach connection making with an agenda-free mindset, our chances of actually making a real connection increases. It allows us to meet people with genuine interest not only about what they do but who they are behind all of that. This doesn’t always work and it’s also perfectly fine to approach a relationship with a goal in mind- I see nothing wrong with that as long as nobody’s going to get harmed or hurt.
At EXPEERTS.club, I have had the chance to witness connectedness that is a blend of both of these approaches. Referring to this blend as “Radical Connectedness”, we(members of EXPEERTS.club) are guided and reminded to make connections that beyond just career benefits, creates a space where each person feels heard, seen, and important.
On Nurturing Connections
Most times, making a connection starts out very simply; sometimes, it does not. Whichever way it may be, it most times starts off with a conversation that leads to other conversations, which then leads to the establishment of mutual interests and excitement.
Over the years, I have been forced by life to see and understand that making a connection with someone you meet is in fact, just the icing on the cake. If you are looking to establish a deep, meaningful, personal bond/connection with someone, you must be ready and willing to commit yourself to the process. And sorry to inform you, this process is not one that ends. If you want your connection to thrive over time, you must timelessly invest your effort. You must be willing to dedicate time to whoever it is you’re trying to stay connected with; when problems arise as will be the case more times than can be counted, you must approach it with understanding and open-mindedness- willing to attack the problem instead of the person; you must stay positive, ask questions, openly communicate and never jump to the conclusion- lack of honest communication and jumping to conclusions more than anything else, will destroy your relationship far beyond repair.
On Connections at EXPEERTS.club
At EXPEERTS.club one of our core values is “radical connectedness” as coined by our founder, Cloed Baumgartner. Through the directive of this core value, we work and create programs and interactions through which our members can connect and establish truly personal and deeply meaningful connections with each other. Through our accountability teams, our members have managed to create safe spaces for themselves. Safe spaces to which they commit and truly belong. Safe spaces where they can hear and be heard, see and be seen, grow and aid the growth of others.
You’re invited to join us as EXPEERTS.club if you’re excited about being radically connected to bright and inspiring women like I still am. Here’s the link: http://www.expeerts.club/
All the best, my friend. We look forward to having you in our midst.
