Welcome to the Connected Leadership podcast with Andy Lopata. This week, Andy looks back at his interview with former radio broadcaster and inspirational speaker, Simone Heng, author of the book Secret Pandemic: The Search for Connection in a Lonely World. Simone shares with Andy, the importance of human connection and how it affects our leadership and Personal Development.
Simone talks about her experiences being both the critic and the criticised. She examines the
importance of being vulnerable as a leader and how accountability plays an important part in leadership. She shares her belief that it is okay to have moments of overwhelm, and provided there are apologies to those affected, it is ok to not be together all the time. Simone shares the science around the need for human connection emphasising that a level of human connection is essential for both mental and physical wellbeing. She discusses how many are digitally connected yet emotionally disconnected.
Key Takeaways
· Vulnerability is the key to connecting to the people you lead
· Human connection is not just a “nice to have” but is essential
· Learn to apologise sincerely when you get it wrong, even if it is hard
· Seek help from people who have different opinions and perspectives from you.
· The real connection is with people who would “bring us to the hospital if we need it”
· Pick up the phone – smiles are heard in the voice, whereas Zoom and teams remove some of the important connection nuances.
· Meet your team where they are at – be flexible and open minded, ask them what they need.
· Look for a serendipitous connection.
Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube
Connect with Simone Heng: Website |LinkedIn |YouTube | X | Instagram
The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring
Episode 138 Featuring Simone Heng
Andy Lopata is a specialist speaker on professional relationships, mentoring, networking, and social media strategy. He is a firm believer that professional relationships underpin our success in business, our roles, and our careers. The right relationships with the right people can lead to new business opportunities, investment, collaborative working, innovation, and career progress. We just need to be comfortable approaching those relationships strategically, without making people feel ‘networked’ by us.
Andy has worked in the field of networking and professional relationships for 25 years, working with global giants such as Paypal, GSK, AstraZeneca, Wella, HSBC, Wembley Stadium, the BBC, and the Prime Minister’s Office of the UAE, among many others during that time. He has also worked with leading universities including NYU, Duke University, and Oxford University’s Said Business School.
A regular blogger for Psychology Today, Andy has been quoted in The Sunday Times, The Financial Times, and The Guardian, as well as many other national and regional newspapers and magazines worldwide. He has written or co-authored six books on networking and professional relationships, with his sixth book, "The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring," being published in Spring 2024. He is also the host of The Connected Leadership Podcast and has interviewed globally recognized names in business, academia, sports, and entertainment for the show.
Andy has been inducted into the PSAE Hall of Fame – the Professional Speaking Association Award of Excellence, which was held by only 21 other speakers at the time it was presented. He is a Fellow and a former President of the Fellows’ Community of the Professional Speaking Association (PSA), a Fellow of the Learning and Performance Institute (LPI), and a Member of the Association of Business Mentors and the Meetings Industry Association.
