Wanted: The Gift of Gab
I was blessed with a father-in-law who had “the gift of gab.” When you called him, he would have all the time in the world to talk with you.
He had interesting stories and updates to share. Plus, he always asked you a number of questions that demonstrated he cared about you and knew what was important to you.
His calls always left you feeling better.
Warm Demander Leaders do this routinely. It's part of how they build relationships with their team members. You can do this too.
Seek to have your conversations:
- Result in smiles
- Elevate the mood
- Build camaraderie and drive action
When you do this, you will leave people feeling better.
Pick up the phone
I met a friend for lunch, over the holidays a couple of years ago. She’s the type of person with whom you can quickly share what's really going on with you. Then you’ll both laugh and maybe even cry a bit too.
She told me about her very quiet holiday with her parents, and how it made her sad that they didn’t get any holiday phone calls that year.
Then she said emphatically to me, “People need to pick up the phone and call their family.”
That comment has stuck with me.
On Thanksgiving day, I made an effort to call a few people. One of them picked up the phone when I called him. After our catch up, he closed the call saying, "You made my day. I had not talked to anyone before you called."
His remark made me both happy and sad.
Let's commit to more connecting with phone calls both in our personal and professional lives.
Warm Demander leaders keep it human by having regular catch-up conversations.
You can do this too:
1. Make it a weekly goal to stop and consider who you can call to catch up.
2. Then get them on the phone. Bring some cheer by sharing a memorable story that illustrates your connection.
Key Points:
Warm Demander leaders use phone calls and personal check-ins to build trust, lift spirits, and keep it human—especially during times of change.
Simple, genuine connection isn’t old-fashioned—it’s a modern leadership advantage that fosters belonging, loyalty, and joyful momentum.