Michelle Tillis Lederman: 7 Mindset Shifts That Turn Networking Into Your Greatest Advantage | Leadership | YAPClassic
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
In this compelling episode, Michelle Tillis Lederman reveals how she landed a new job in just three days after being laid off—not through luck, but through strategic relationship-building and the power of connection. (02:42) Michelle, a nationally recognized expert in workplace communication and author of "The Connector's Advantage," breaks down her framework for building authentic connections that drive faster, easier, and better results in both business and life.
- Main Theme: Connection is the new superpower in our networking age, with authentic relationship-building being more crucial than ever for career success, especially in hybrid work environments where traditional networking opportunities have diminished.
Speakers
Michelle Tillis Lederman
Michelle is a nationally recognized expert in workplace communication, networking, and leadership. She serves as CEO and founder of Executive Essentials, a company providing customized communication and leadership programs, and is a keynote speaker, author, and corporate trainer. Her book "The Connector's Advantage" teaches how building strong relationships leads to faster, easier, and better results in both business and life.
Hala Taha
Hala is the host of Young and Profiting podcast and a successful entrepreneur who has built her career through strategic networking and connecting. She considers networking one of her top skills and has dominated her niche through relationship-building expertise.
Key Takeaways
Master the Seven Mindsets of a Connector
Michelle outlines seven interconnected mindsets that enable successful connection: being open and accepting, having a clear vision, trusting others, embracing abundance, staying social and curious, being conscientious, and maintaining a generous spirit. (26:14) These mindsets work synergistically—you can't be conscientious without trust, or have a generous spirit without abundance thinking. The key is understanding that these aren't linear steps but complementary approaches that reinforce each other in building meaningful relationships.
Embrace Your Unique Charms Instead of Hiding Them
Rather than viewing personal quirks as weaknesses to eliminate, successful connectors identify their "unique charms"—core qualities that are central to who they are but don't always work in their favor. (11:12) Michelle shares how she acknowledges her tendency to be intense and interrupt, actively telling collaborators "sometimes I speak as if my answer is the right answer—please disagree with me." This proactive approach prevents misinterpretation and creates stronger working relationships by bridging the gap between intent and impact.
Use Strategic Asking Techniques to Get Better Results
Effective connectors master different types of asks to increase their success rate while preserving relationships. The "opt-out ask" gives people an easy reason to say no ("If your company allows it, I'd appreciate a LinkedIn recommendation"), while the "make it easy ask" provides alternatives and shrinks requests to find something they can say yes to. (30:38) The "non-ask" approach shares your vision enthusiastically without making specific requests, allowing others to naturally offer help and ideas.
Shift From Scarcity to Abundance Thinking
One of the most challenging but transformative mindsets involves moving from scarcity ("there's not enough room at the top for women") to abundance thinking. (43:00) Michelle emphasizes this isn't toxic positivity but rather believing in the probability that things can be exponentially better and that there's enough to go around. She demonstrates this by teaching people to view competitors as "potential strategic alliances" rather than threats, fostering collaboration over competition.
Practice Intentional Connection in Hybrid Workplaces
With fewer water cooler moments and random encounters, successful networking now requires deliberate effort. (51:29) Michelle recommends building connection activities into meeting agendas, having rotating icebreakers where team members take turns leading conversations, and creating virtual equivalents of casual office interactions. The key is being intentional about when to connect in person versus virtually, and actively creating opportunities for relationship-building in both environments.
Statistics & Facts
- Michelle landed a new job with an offer within three days of receiving her layoff notice in 2001, demonstrating the power of established relationships rather than luck. (02:42)
- Michelle's networking approach helped her connect with Michelle Obama's chief of staff and get her book in front of the former First Lady when that was her specific goal for one book launch. (29:38)
- Michelle has maintained a mentoring relationship with a CEO for over 17 years (since she was pregnant with her first child, who is now 17), illustrating the long-term value of sustained professional relationships. (41:25)
