Hey there! I’m Coach Maya.
Let me ask you something. How much time do you spend at work?
If you’re like most people, it’s probably around 2,000 hours a year. That’s more time than you spend with your family. More time than you spend sleeping.
So here’s the million-dollar question: Do you actually like the people you’re spending all that time with?
Let me tell you about Judy. She was the CFO at her company. Smart, great at her job. However, she had a peculiar problem – people didn’t know who she was. They’d heard her name in meetings, but they couldn’t put a face to it.
Why? She was always locked away in her office, grinding through spreadsheets and reports. Then one day, she decided to join the company’s walking group. Just a casual stroll around the block after lunch. And you know what happened? People literally asked, “Wait, who are you?”
That was Judy’s wake-up call. She realized being a good leader isn’t just about being smart. It’s about showing up as a real person, not just a title.
When you have real relationships at work, everything gets better. You’re more motivated. You’re happier. It’s actually enjoyable to go to work.
So why don’t more people do this? Because most of us are stuck having the wrong kinds of conversations.
Think about your typical workday. Most conversations sound like this: “When’s that report due?” “Did you send the email?” “Can you update the spreadsheet?”
That’s Level One conversation. It’s superficial and transactional – just getting stuff done. Necessary, but not building any real connection.
Level Two is a bit better. It’s a deeper conversation about personal feelings and experiences. You share opinions. You brainstorm. You give feedback. Still mostly about work, but at least you’re sharing your thoughts.
But Level Three? That’s where the magic happens. That’s when you talk about real stuff. Your goals. Your struggles. What you’re excited about. What keeps you up at night? This is where real connections happen.
Most leaders never get to level three. I get it. You were probably taught to “stay professional.” Keep work and personal life separate.
But here’s what I’ve learned working with thousands of leaders: Your team doesn’t just want a boss or a co-worker. They want someone they can trust. Someone they can connect with. So how do you get there?
- Stop running on autopilot. The next time someone asks, “How are you?” don’t just say “fine.” Try this: “You know what? I’m pretty excited about this new project, but honestly, a little nervous too.” And then turn it back to them – “How about you? What’s on your mind lately?”
- Make space for real conversations. Take walking meetings. Grab coffee together. Ask questions like “What’s been the best part of your week so far?” or “Anything cool happening in your world lately?”
- And here’s the big one – you go first. If you want people to be real with you, you need to be real first. Share a mistake you made and what you learned. Talk about something you’re working on personally. Show them it’s safe to be human.
Look, you’re spending 2,000 hours a year with these people whether you like it or not. Why not make it awesome?
Here’s your opportunity: This week, have one genuinely human conversation with someone at work. Ask about their weekend plans, share something you’re excited about, and admit when you don’t know something.
When you bring your whole self to work, people notice. Your team gets more creative, problems get solved faster, and yeah – you might actually start loving your job.
This is Coach Maya. If this resonated with you, would you share it? Someone might need to hear this today. You got this, my friend!
