Connection is the Currency of Leadership

By Tricia Manning, PCC

And it compounds over time—sometimes in ways you don’t even see until someone reminds you, years later, that you made a difference.

A few weeks ago, I received an unexpected message.

In it was a link to an article, along with a short note that simply said, “I read this and thought of you.”

It was a Forbes article, “The Hidden Cost of Remote Work: Lost Rituals and Human Moments”. It explores how the informal rituals we once took for granted—like walking to the parking lot together after a long day, catching up at the coffee machine, or pausing for a birthday celebration—have faded in the modern workplace.

These rituals might seem small, but they held meaning. They built connection. And they made work feel human.

As I read, I was nodding along. This message was so aligned with everything I believe—and everything I strive to help leaders embrace. Meaningful leadership doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through small, intentional acts that build trust, spark belonging, and make people feel seen.

And sometimes, those moments come full circle.

The Moments That Matter

In leadership, we often think of legacy as something we leave behind. A title. A project. A metric of success. But legacy is also how you make people feel.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ve heard me say:

Legacy isn’t someday. It’s every day.

It’s not about a title or a milestone. It’s about how you lead right now.

The way you listen.
The tone you set.
The care you bring to each interaction.

We live in a fast paced world, one where many of us work remotely or hybrid, and it can be easy to default to tasks over connection. But leadership isn’t just about getting things done. It’s about how people experience you along the way.

And sometimes, you don’t know you’re leaving that kind of legacy until much later. That’s why I believe so deeply in showing up with intention every day, especially in the smallest of ways.

Rebuilding Connection in a Changing Workplace

The rituals of work might look different now, but that doesn’t mean that connection is gone. It just means we need to be more intentional about how we create it.

Think about your own team. Are there routines or touchpoints that used to create a sense of belonging? Can you reinvent them?

Here are a few practical ways to bring more meaning and connection into the everyday:

• Open meetings with a human moment. Start with a personal check-in, a celebration, or simply a question like “What’s giving you energy today?”
  
  

●      Make recognition personal. Go beyond “good job” and name what was unique or meaningful about someone’s contribution.  A genuine “I noticed how you handled X, Y, Z” can go a long way.

• Practice connectorship. Remember something that matters to someone—like their child’s graduation or a recent struggle—and check in on it. Intentionally connect beyond the task.
  
  

●      Be present in transitions. That “walk to the car” may now be a Slack message or a quick Zoom debrief—but it’s still a moment to say, “That was a tough meeting. How are you feeling?”

Meaningful leadership happens in all these moments. These small acts build trust, deepen connection, and remind people that they matter.

A Full-Circle Reminder

The article wasn’t just powerful because of its message. What made it truly special was who sent it.

It came from someone I worked with over 20 years ago. Back then, she was on my team and I enjoyed supporting her in her career interests and goals. We had a strong connection through the shared grind and growth of corporate life, and while our paths diverged over the years, we’ve stayed loosely in touch.

She recently shared with me that I had made a lasting impact on her career—and what I probably never said enough is that she also made an impact on me.

So when she sent that article—when she thought of me in the context of a piece about meaningful leadership and human moments—it truly meant something.

It was a reminder that the small ways we show up, care, connect, and lead can ripple out in ways we don’t always see. Sometimes, years later, they come back around and remind you that you made a difference.

So, thank you, Jane. For the article. For the connection. And for reminding me that legacy lives in the everyday moments.

Ready to Reconnect With Your Leadership Legacy?

Curious how your leadership is experienced by others?  Take the Heart Leader Assessment to discover your heart score and learn how to lead more meaningfully and intentionally today.

Or book time with me to explore how we can help your team create more human moments in a hybrid world.

Let’s connect.

About Tricia Manning, PCC

Tricia Manning is a leadership and culture expert, keynote speaker, and executive coach who helps growth-minded leaders elevate performance, strengthen engagement, and build thriving, people-first cultures. A former C-suite executive with 25 years of real-world experience, Tricia was one of only two women at the boardroom table and understands the complex challenges leaders face today.

After a life-changing health crisis in 2016, she transitioned from corporate leadership to coaching, speaking, and writing. She has since worked with leaders at top organizations like Microsoft, PepsiCo, and Amazon. Tricia is the author of Lead with Heart & Leave a Legacy and a passionate advocate for intentional, heart-led leadership that drives meaningful impact.