I just got back from a trip to 1995.

Through the power of my magic snowblower, and a fully charged set of Airpods, I spent an hour listening to some of my alternative rock favorites from the early 90’s while clearing copious amounts of frozen precipitation from my driveway.

Smashing Pumpkins, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana… They were all present and accounted for.

And as these anthems of my youth carried me 30 years into the past, reminding me of a much younger version of myself, I was struck by a thought.

Why do all the loners hang out together?

It sounds silly, but if you ever need proof that everyone you meet is looking for connection, it is evidenced by the fact that, eventually, the people who just want to be left alone will find one another and unite around that desire.

Hayley Williams from Paramore may have said it best:

“You should be alone. Yeah, you should be alone. You should be alone with me.”

As a leader, it’s your job to ensure your people find this sense of connection. Not a familial connection or a romantic connection. Not a everyone-has-to-be-besties connection. 

But a connectedness that affirms, we are all pulling in the same direction and we all belong here.

Your people don’t need to have everything in common, that generally works against you. 

But they do need to have clarity about a common goal and fully understand how they contribute to a team victory.

TRY THIS: Make it a point to connect with every person you lead and express your appreciation for their contributions and reinforce how their efforts matter. This may only take 3 minutes. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or emotional. Be specific. Meet them where they are at.

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