“We mustn’t forget the head, the heart, and the gut.” – Marcia Smythe, Neuroleadership Institute
Human connection isn’t just a “nice to have” in the workplace. It’s a competitive advantage. A form of intelligence. And, perhaps most importantly, a deeply human need.
At our most recent London Speech Workshop webinar, The Science of Human Connection, we explored how to build authentic relationships in today’s changing world.
With wisdom from founder Emma Serlin, behavioral design expert Dr. Peter Mandano, and neuroscientist and leadership facilitator Marcia Smythe from the Neuroleadership Institute.
Here’s what we uncovered.
Why Human Connection Matters More Than Ever
As Emma opened the session, she framed genuine connection not just as a skill, but as a responsibility in the age of digital acceleration and AI. It’s how we preserve our humanity, and our sanity, in a world that often feels automated and fragmented.
Peter echoed this, describing how authentic and meaningful connections unlock three types of value:
- Transactional – The access to resources or outcomes.
- Intellectual – Exposure to new perspectives and ideas.
- Social/Emotional – The trust, belonging, and safety we crave as social beings.
Ironically, we often chase the transactional first but the research, and our lived experience, shows that it’s through genuine emotional connection that the best business outcomes flow.
The Neuroscience Behind Trust (And Why It Breaks)
Marcia offered a fascinating deep dive into what happens in the brain when we connect, or disconnect. Trust, she explained, is central to human relationships. Once broken, it triggers a threat state in the brain. And from that place, we lose our ability to collaborate, be creative, or feel safe.
Using the SCARF Model (Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, Fairness), she showed how we can understand the hidden emotional drivers of people around us, and how to better support, lead, and communicate with them.
Her message? “If we can meet people where they are in SCARF terms, we can build bridges even in conflict.”
How to Build Genuine Connection at Work
So how do we actually build these meaningful relationships? Peter and Marcia shared several tangible strategies:
Soften Your Focus
Don’t enter a conversation with a fixed outcome. Be open, curious, and look for shared interests, even if they seem unrelated at first.
Acknowledge Your Biases
We all have them. The key is to recognise the lens we see through and challenge it. Especially in diverse or unfamiliar environments.
Be Deeply Curious
Ask open, authentic questions. As Marcia said, even being quiet and listening well can make you “the most interesting person in the room.”
Create the Right Conditions
Peter reminded us: “Humans are natural connectors but we need better containers.” That means:
- Choosing inclusive environments (not everyone likes networking at the pub)
- Inviting contextual ambiguity (unusual settings that remove hierarchy)
- Designing for psychological safety
At LSW, we call this “holding space.” And we practice it with tools like The Listening Lake and Sharing Your Gems – frameworks that help people open up and feel seen.
Super Connectors vs. Sincere Connectors
Are “super connectors” authentic or manipulative? It’s a fair question. And it sparked an insightful exchange.
Peter brought it home with a lovely metaphor. His two daughters, aged 8 and 10. In just weeks at a new school, they’d each formed a joyful community of friends. Why?
Because children connect naturally. They’re open, curious, and they don’t lead with ego. That’s the kind of “super connection” we should all aspire to – natural, joyful, and real.
Final Thought: Cultivate Connection Intentionally
The final question of the day asked whether connection happens organically or needs to be cultivated. Peter’s answer?
“We are natural connectors. The problem is, we often operate in conditions that make it really hard to connect.”
That’s what we’re here to change.
At LSW, we believe that the skills of connection can be taught, and when they are, they unlock extraordinary potential. For individuals. For teams. And for organisations.
Ready to Take This Further?
If this conversation stirred something in you and you’d like to explore one on one communication coaching, why not Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call with one of our team and see how we could support your communication journey.
For team training, you can book a Consultation call in with our B2B team here.
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