Who’s proud to be connected to you?

Last night my family sat together and watched Olympic Weightlifting for 2 hours. No, we aren’t a weightlifting family (although we know our way around a gym). No, we aren’t a family who regularly gathers around a tv (although we have been doing it a lot during the Olympics). But we are a family who cares deeply about the people we are connected to. And that’s why we watched weightlifting (and cheered like we knew what we were doing even though we were learning the rules along the way).

Three years ago, my now teenaged son decided to try CrossFit as a way to stay in shape during his sport’s offseason and we were lucky enough to find a gym who poured into him. In that community, he didn’t just find fitness, he also found support, encouragement and confidence. Not only did he find it, but so did I. It wasn’t until I was in my 40s that I learned how to weight train. I’ve always been a runner and I love my cardio, but i had a fear of weights. That community that welcomed and taught my son also (months later) embraced me and my daughter.

That community includes the mother Olympic Weightlifting Bronze October Medalist, Hampton Morris, who was my son’s first CrossFit coach. No one in my household has ever met Hampton, but we own his swag (check out my pin) and last night we were some of his biggest fans because of how his mom impacted our lives. That’s the power of the relationships that we build. They transcend personal connections. Relationships shape our experiences and ultimately the way we see the world.

As a leader (of yourself, of a team, or of other leaders) you have the power to build deep connections that can shape the way people think, feel, and experience the world.

We are proud to be connected to Hampton. So my question is: Who’s proud to be connected to you and what are you doing to earn that prize?