Louis Carter and Mike break down what connection means in organizations: shared identity, empathy, and understanding. When people align on values and mission, stress drops and performance improves. Carter emphasizes that mutual respect and goals bigger than yourself create the strongest bonds.
So, Mike, we're both in the connection business, and we're connected in a lot of the things we believe as well. We hold a lot of similar beliefs. What does connection mean to you?
Louis, I see connection as a bond that exists between two or more people, and I see it as based on primarily three things. First of all, Is there shared identity? Do we have a common vision, mission, our values and reputation? Secondly, shared empathy. Do we feel each other's feelings? And when we do, that connects us. And then finally, is there a shared understanding? And so those three things are different, and yet they work together to really create this sense of connection.
I love that, because I always talk about connectedness in terms of respect for for each other and how we share those same kinds of ethical values. And we're talking to each other right now. We do both believe the same kind of things around connectedness and really love for each other, love for our workplace. Absolutely. And achieving something that's greater than ourselves. And I see that in you. We're just talking about that. It reduces our stress response when we begin to think more in this way toward the future, more positive toward Yeah, it's very powerful.
And I experienced it. I spent most of my career on Wall Street, and so I was under a lot of performance stress. But I found those times I was in a group where there was strong friendships and love, as you say, just kind of a friendship type of love, that it reduced my stress. I performed better. I was more creative. And it got me interested in what is it about organizational cultures that really help them thrive for a long period of time. And it ultimately came down to this sense of connection. Aye.
