The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships, reviewed

We look at the new book by Susan McPherson, who share insights from her own personal experiences and journey to becoming an angel investor. You can buy the book here.

The Lost Art of Connecting, reviewed

This book aims to be honest, insightful and helpful in enabling people to better engage with, and communicate to the world. It also shares the tragic and unfortunate events around the death of her mother, and how that triggered her move into angel investing.

McPherson began writing the book at an interesting time, just as the world flipped from face to face encounters to a massive reliance on online methods of communication. She has reflected on this deeply, and aimed to factor this into the insights she wishes to share, and how the global pandemic has forced a recalibration of how we work, and what ‘good’ can and should look like.

In many ways the timing of her writing the book and the impact of the global pandemic work well together. A year later we are still dealing with the pandemic, and, despite glib proclamations from Bolsanaro and Republican Governors, the reality is that covid has not passed yet, and if we are not cognisant of what is happening, it will continue to cause pain and suffering for at least the rest of 2021, if not beyond too.

In this context, McPherson’s book is relevant, useful, and will remain so for a similar time period too. There are lots of great case studies and relevant examples. We found it enjoyable to read and offered good value and insights. Check it out.

More about the book ->

Networking is often considered a necessary evil for all working professionals. With social media platforms like Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at our disposal, reaching potential investors or employers is much easier. Yet, these connections often feel transactional, agenda-driven, and dehumanizing, leaving professionals feeling burnt out and stressed out.

Instead, we should connect on a human level and build authentic relationships beyond securing a new job or a new investor for your next big idea. To build real and meaningful networking contacts, we need to go back to basics, remembering that technology is a tool and not a means and end. We need to tap into our humanity and learn to be more intentional and authentic.

As a “serial connector” and communications expert, Susan McPherson has a lifetime of experience building genuine connections in and out of work. Her methodology is broken down into three simple steps

• 1. Gather: Instead of waiting for the perfect networking opportunity to come to you, think outside the box and create your own opportunity. Host your own dinner party, join a local meet-up group or volunteer at your neighbourhood food pantry. Anyone from your local barista to a fellow parent at your daughter’s elementary school can lead to another connection that you just might need.
• 2. Ask: Instead of leading with our own rehearsed elevator pitches asking for help, ask to help, opening the door to share resources, experience, contacts, and perspectives that add diversity to your own vision.
• 3. Do: Turn new connections into meaningful relationships by taking these newly formed relationships deeper. Follow through on the promises you made, keep in touch, and learn to move past small talk by embracing your vulnerability and having conversations that matter.

Woven together with helpful tips and useful advice on making the most out of every step, the book draws on the real-life success stories of friends, and clients, as well as McPherson’s own experience as a renowned “serial connector.”  Filled with humour, humility, and wisdom, The Lost Art of Connecting is the handbook we all need to foster personal and professional relationships that blur the lines between work and play and enrich our lives in every way.

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