Consider Reconnecting to Grow (#255)
The Confident Leader
BOOST YOUR LEADERSHIP IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
It feels like the economy is opening up a bit. So are opportunities.
And yet, it’s possible you might be a bit hesitant.
A founder I spoke with recently said, “I know I need to get back out there—but I feel like I’ve lost my edge.”
“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”
—Zig Ziglar
This Week’s Edition
What if reconnecting isn’t about “networking,” but about returning to conversations that built your career in the first place?
Clarify Your Thinking
Recession mode required heads-down focus.
Operational excellence. Internal clarity. Tasks over relationships.
But now? The aperture is opening. And leaders who step forward relationally will be the ones who gain early ground.
It may not be about who you know but who knows you!
Still, re-entry feels awkward. Perhaps you’ve been solving internal issues over the recent past.
Now you’re expected to re-engage externally—with charm, clarity, and presence.
And that’s where doubt creeps in:
“Do I still have it?”
“Do I have something to offer?”
“Will I come off as needy… or worse, irrelevant?”
You’re not alone.
But here’s the reframe:
This isn’t about networking. It’s about leadership through connection.
Relationships are your growth engine. And right now, is as good a time as any for a relational tune-up.
You’re not walking into a cold room.
You’re walking back into a story where your name already has meaning.
You’re not the new kid. You’re the alumni.
You’re not pitching. You’re reconnecting.
And it’s not just for the sake of sales—
It’s to widen your perspective, renew your energy, and remind yourself of your place in the bigger picture.
Reminding yourself of the story you are writing… what’s the next chapter?
Old Thinking
I’ve been out of the loop too long. I’m behind. Rebuilding will be awkward and slow.
New Thinking
I’m not starting over—I’m reentering with experience, credibility, and something valuable to offer.
Thoughts Lead to Actions
Here’s how to rebuild your relational rhythm without force, fear, or fluff:
1. Block time for connection.
Set aside 1–2 hours each week dedicated to outreach. Protect it like a client meeting.
2. Reconnect, don’t pitch.
Send 3 genuine check-ins per week to past clients, colleagues, or strategic partners. Start with curiosity.
3. Make your admiration list.
Create a “People I Admire” list—mentors, peers, thinkers—and aim to reach out to 2 per month for a no-agenda conversation.
4. Lead a table.
Host a breakfast or small-group meetup. You don’t need to fill a ballroom—just be a connector. Create value by convening the right people.
5. Attend with purpose.
Choose one event or gathering per quarter. Don’t go to collect business cards. Go to listen, contribute, and re-engage your curiosity.
These aren’t tactics. They’re leadership moves. Power moves that energize you, your business and your growth!
The kind of moves that say to your team: “We don’t wait for opportunity. We walk run toward it.”
Boost Your Performance
What’s Your Opinion?
What’s your go-to mindset shift before a big networking moment? Share it with me at robin.pou@robinpou.com.
If you are going to be a leader, you might as well be a good one. Don’t let doubt count you out. Have a confident week!
Robin Pou, Chief Advisor and Strategist
We live to make bad leadership extinct so forward this newsletter to others who strive to be confident leaders.
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What is “The Confident Leader”?
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, I began a video series called “Panic or Plan?” It was designed to equip leaders to navigate the doubt they experienced and to rise in the confidence they needed to lead during turbulent times. It took off. I then started this newsletter to equip leaders in the same fashion each week for the doubt that crashes across the bow of their leaderSHIP.
