By Justin Stoddart

At a recent college orientation for parents, a university president shared something that stopped me in my tracks. He said, “Many students today struggle to connect. They were told to disconnect during COVID, and now they’re learning how to reconnect again.”

Then he shared what he called the recipe for connection — and honestly, it’s something every professional, especially those in sales and customer engagement, should take to heart.

Ingredient #1: Empathy

Real connection starts with empathy: truly listening to what others are saying and feeling what they feel. Whether it’s excitement, frustration, or uncertainty, empathy bridges the gap between conversation and connection.

When you take the time to understand someone’s perspective, you’re not just hearing them, you’re seeing them. And in today’s world, that kind of understanding is becoming increasingly rare.

Ingredient #2: Vulnerability

The second ingredient is vulnerability. You can’t expect others to connect with you if you never show what’s real. People feel empathy for you when you open up about what’s going well, or not so well.

In business, this means dropping the robotic scripts and letting authentic conversations happen. Clients, teammates, and partners don’t want polished perfection; they want to know you’re human.

Being okay with “not okay” moments creates trust. It’s what moves conversations from transactional to transformational.

Why It Matters

At ProInsight, we see this every day: in customer interactions, team collaboration, and leadership growth. True connection doesn’t come from having all the answers; it comes from being present enough to ask better questions.

So next time you’re in a meeting or client call, remember the recipe: empathy + vulnerability = connection. It might just be the missing ingredient in your success story.

👉 Learn More about building stronger connections through insight-driven engagement, or take a Deep Dive into how we help by-referral professionals elevate their impact.