"Wait, Why Are We Doing This Again?" The missing link - Connection
- Anjali Leon
- Sep 3
- 2 min read
Picture This
A Slack message at 4:47 PM:
“Hey, can you pull the Q3 customer trend data and draft a short analysis for the report? Need it by Friday.”
It’s from their manager.
They stare at it for a moment. Sure, they can do it. They probably will. But the quiet questions surface:
Why this? Why now? Why me?
With five other deadlines and no context, the task feels disconnected. Just another “to-do.” And with no sense of why it matters, the energy is gone before the work even begins.
Leaders, Do You Realize This Is How Your Communication Might Land?
You thought you were clear. You gave the task and the deadline. Straightforward, right?
But clarity isn’t just about what needs to get done and by when. Without context and connection, your direction risks landing as just another task dropped from above.
If you want people to respond with ownership and commitment, you need the missing link.
The Missing Link: Connection
In the 4C’s framework for alignment, connection is the piece that transforms direction into ownership. It’s what moves someone from “I know what to do” to “I know why my work matters.”
It’s what turns a task into a contribution.
What Connection Really Means
🔗 Connection helps people see how their work contributes to something bigger: a strategic priority, a team win, or a meaningful outcome.
It provides relevance—answering, “Why this? Why now?”
It provides meaning—reminding them, “Your work matters. You matter.”
When people feel connected, they decide faster, act smarter, and care more—because they’re not just completing tasks. They’re advancing a mission.
What It Sounds Like
❌ Without Connection:
“Need the Q3 trends by Friday.”
✅ With Connection:
“This analysis is going in the board deck for next week. It’s part of our pitch for next year’s retention funding, and we must make a compelling case. Your section on customer behavior—with the trends you’ve observed and the accompanying analysis that shows its impact on our current strategy—is key to making that case.”
Now they’re not just pulling data. They’re influencing strategy.
Everyday Moments to Build Connection
Connection doesn’t require a big speech. It happens in daily leadership moments:
When delegating: Share why their contribution matters, why they’re the right person, and how it connects to priorities.
In 1:1s: Ask, “How do you see your work connecting to the bigger picture? What would make that clearer?”
In kickoffs: Begin with the strategic purpose. Say the quiet part out loud: “Here’s why this matters—and why you’re in the room.”
When priorities shift: Don’t just redirect. Reconnect the dots—how their contribution shifts and what happens to their earlier work.
Make It a Habit
Before you end any key conversation, ask yourself:
Did I share why this work matters?
Did I link it to our goals, priorities, or their development?
Did I offer context that helps them act with confidence?
Because when people understand why their work matters, they do more than deliver.
They lead. They adapt. They own it.
And that’s the kind of alignment that lasts.
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