Just nod if you can hear me.  Is there anyone home? –Pink Floyd

Nothing has brought me more pleasure than delivering my motivational talks to numerous sales organizations over the years. (Well, maybe the birth of my children.  And my Wedding Day?  Am I getting myself in trouble?)  ANYWAY…let’s just say it has been incredibly rewarding.

And during the pandemic months, I have developed an offshoot of this talk track specifically for athletes in this challenging time.  Recently, Jamie Ready, the Director of Athletics at Connelly School of the Holy Child, invited me to speak (virtually of course!) to a group of students comprising their Athletic Leadership Council.  Sign me up!

I joined the virtual call full of energy and anticipation.  But about 20 seconds into my talk, one of the athletes mentioned that my voice was breaking up and they couldn’t hear me.  Ugh.  Okay, time to stay resilient.  I quickly switched laptops and dialed back in.  This time, I got a “thumbs up” that my voice was clear, but I couldn’t hear anyone else on the other side.  And then the screen went dark and I couldn’t see anyone else on the other side.  Rut-Roh.

With my material and message in hand, there was only one thing to do: press on!  But without any verbal or visual feedback, my “invigorating” talk suddenly felt flat and unfulfilling.  Hello?  Is anybody out there?  It dawned on me that I drew energy from my audience.  And without that feedback and motivation, the isolation negatively impacted the experience.

And it was a good reminder, especially in this pandemic, that we all need that connection and feedback in our work and personal lives.

We Need the Human Touch

In our work lives, we certainly don’t want to be micromanaged.  But we tend to fail when left on an island.  What if we never receive feedback from our customers?  What if our co-workers never check in on us?  What if we never receive either encouragement or guidance from our mentors?  How will we know if our ship is pointed in the direction?  Where will we draw our joy and motivation?

We don’t need constant hand-holding and reassurance.  We are all professionals.  But the reality is that everyone needs some level of connection.  We need to feel as though we are part of something that transcends products and market share.  We need human connection and a feeling that someone has our back.  Even in a virtual environment, we need to know that there is hope on the other side of the camera!

Keep the Camera On

And this is even more critical in our personal lives. We can try to power through our difficult moments alone.  We can put blinders on and block out the rest of the world as we struggle.  But eventually, we have to open up the lens and focus on our close relationships.  We are stronger together.  We need that reassurance and affirmation.  Life is so much more meaningful when we can share feedback and common experiences with someone else.

The feedback doesn’t have to be positive.  We don’t always need to hear “yes”.  We don’t always need a pat on the back.   Sometimes, when we veer off the track, we need someone to forcefully put our hands back on the wheel.  Sometimes, we just need someone to listen and nod.  But we do need something.  We can’t just shut off the camera and blindly go through the motions.

Fill Up That Reservoir

The seeds of resilience are planted from within.  We have to be intentional and work hard to move forward.  But the water for growth will often come from outside.  Mentors, managers, parents, friends, close family, our inner circle.  We need to pay attention to our internal reservoir.  Are we letting people in?  Are we seeking feedback?  Are we valuing human connection?  The reality is that we can survive without it.  But life is not about just surviving.  It is about thriving.  And it takes a village to experience true growth and success.

I still delivered a decent talk to the girls that day.  But it would have been so much more meaningful and impactful with someone to share in that experience.  As this pandemic wears on, let’s stay connected and offer feedback and encouragement.  Let’s help others through this time.  And let’s be willing to accept that help from others.

Even if we can’t see them, there is always someone out there for us.  Human connection is a gift.  Let’s spread it far and wide over this holiday season.