Susan McPherson: The Lost Art of Connecting

Networking - it's something we all have to do but most of the time don't want to do. Networking can often feel awkward, cold, and transactional. This is especially true with the advancement of social media platforms like Linkedin.

But building relationships with others doesn't and shouldn't have to be this way. As social creatures, we crave genuine connection that leads to authentic relationships. But to build real and meaningful contacts, we need to go back to basics by tapping into our humanity and learning to be more intentional and authentic.

Susan McPherson is an expert on the ins and outs of the lost art of connecting. This is where the transactional nature of networking ends, and the meaningful creation on relationships begins.

Susan is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. She is the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact, providing storytelling, partnership creation and visibility to corporations, NGOs and social enterprises. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships. Susan has 25+ years of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry events including Inspirefest/Dublin, BSR, Center for Corporate Citizenship's Annual Summit, DLD and Techonomy., and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She has appeared on NPR, CNN, USA Today, The New Yorker, New York Magazine and the Los Angeles Times.

Currently, Susan invests in, and advises women-led technology start-ups, including iFundWomen, Inc., Messy.fm, Our Place, The Riveter, Park Place Payments, Hint Water, Apolitical, Arlo Skye, Giapenta and The Muse.  She serves on the boards of USA for UNHCR, The 19th News, and the Lower Eastside Girls Club, and serves on the advisory board of both The List and Alltruists. Additionally, she is a member of the MIT Solve Women and Technology Leadership Group and serves as an adviser to several nonprofits, including Girls Who Code, Ocean Collective, She’s The First, and The OpEd Project. Susan is a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador and has received numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company and Elle Magazine. She resides in Brooklyn.

In this episode, Susan dives deep into the concepts of her new book, The Lost Art of Connecting.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

• Susan giving credit and thanks to her 5th grade teacher (3:02)
• How listening and question asking can set you apart (6:49)
• Serving others before yourself (12:22)
• Finding out what you have to offer (15:54)
• Solving the insecurity of being left out (18:39)
• The first step to gathering people (21:41)
• Bringing people together around a particular issue (22:57)
• The importance of connecting people (25:34)
• Employees having time off to volunteer (29:11)
• How meaningfully connecting with others leads to efficiency (31:27)
• The power of reconnecting with people (33:41)
• Susan's love language (37:23)
• Susan's message to her 5th grade teacher (39:57)

Links:

• Connect with Susan on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanmcpherson/
• The Lost Art of Connecting - https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Art-Connecting-Meaningful-Relationships-ebook-dp-B08JZFYX46/dp/B08JZFYX46/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1601645264
• Julian Treasure's TED Talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen_better