51 – Why Connection is the Cornerstone of Impactful Teamwork

Welcome back to another edition of Impactful Teamwork – the podcast for business leaders who are committed to creating high-performing teams that are both purpose-driven and performance-focused. I’m Julia Felton, your host and guide, and in this week’s episode, I’m diving into a topic that keeps surfacing with clients, colleagues and even the horses I partner with in my leadership work – connection.

In today’s fast-paced, digital-first world – particularly in the midst of the AI revolution – true human connection is becoming a rare and precious commodity. And yet, it’s the very thing that’s needed most.

Whether you lead a multi-million-pound business or a fast-growing scale-up, your ability to connect authentically – with yourself, your team, and your stakeholders – could well be the difference between momentum and stagnation. So in this blog, I want to unpack the insights from this week’s podcast episode and explore how you can deepen connection to drive team performance and sustainable business success.

We’re Drowning in Noise – and Craving Connection

We live in a world saturated with information, marketing messages and AI-generated content. It’s getting harder to discern what’s real and what’s not. I was reminded of this during a recent workshop where we looked at an image of two people relaxing by a pool – a seemingly idyllic holiday scene. But when we looked closer, we realised the man had three arms. The image was AI-generated, and we’d almost missed the giveaway.

That moment reinforced something I’ve been noticing across boardrooms and workshops alike: people are craving authenticity more than ever before. They want to feel seen, heard, and valued – not manipulated, marketed to or managed at arm’s length.

Why Connection is a Leadership Imperative

In my book Unbridled Success, I talk about the importance of TLC – not in the sense of tea and sympathy, but Trust, Leadership, and Connection. These are the three essential pillars of effective teamwork.

Connection, in particular, underpins everything. It’s the invisible thread that ties your strategy to execution, your purpose to performance, and your people to each other.

As leadership expert John Maxwell puts it:

“Connection is the ability to identify with people and relate to them in a way that increases your influence with them.”

That influence, built on empathy and trust, is what drives buy-in, engagement, and ultimately results.

Four Levels of Connection That Drive Impact

So how do we connect more powerfully? In this week’s podcast, I share the four key dimensions of connection that I use in my work with clients (and horses!). These are:

1. Visual Connection – What People See

We remember 50% of what we see, but only 20% of what we hear. That’s why visual communication is such a powerful lever for leadership.

In our hybrid working world, tools like Zoom have become vital. They allow us to read body language, spot signs of fatigue or disengagement, and build rapport even from a distance. But it’s not just about being on camera – it’s about how you show up. Are you energised? Present? Authentic?

As a leader, your visual presence sends a message before you even speak.

2. Intellectual Connection – What People Understand

Your team needs to understand what your business stands for, where it’s headed, and why it matters. That starts with you being clear on your message and speaking about it with passion.

I remember a moment in a horse-led coaching session where a client was struggling to articulate her “why”. As she shared a list of logical business goals, my horse, Charlie, stood disengaged. Then, suddenly, she said: “This business matters because it will help me save elephants in Africa.” In that moment, Charlie walked straight over and put his head on her chest. Because finally – she was speaking from the heart.

3. Emotional Connection – What People Feel

We buy with emotion and justify with logic – and your team is no different. They don’t just want to hear your strategy; they want to feel your belief in it. They want to know you care.

One of my clients, let’s call her Susan, connected deeply with a pony named Olive during a retreat exercise. As she stood beside Olive, breathing with her, years of unprocessed grief surfaced. Olive responded by gently wrapping her neck around her. In that moment of raw emotional connection, healing and clarity emerged.

This kind of emotional resonance is powerful – and it’s just as important in business as it is in life.

4. Verbal Connection – What People Hear

While words may only account for 7% of communication, the right words matter. As Mark Twain said,

“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”

Your language sets the tone. Are you inspiring or diminishing? Are you empowering people or instilling doubt? Choose words that energise, uplift and align with your vision.

Remember – your team is listening for more than just instructions. They’re listening for meaning.

Connection Starts With You

Here’s the thing – you can’t connect with others until you connect with yourself. That means getting honest about what you want, what you believe, and what you stand for.

When I work with the horses, they always reflect back your internal state. They don’t respond to titles or targets – only to who you are in the moment. It’s a humbling reminder that leadership isn’t just about competence. It’s about congruence.

Why Connection is Your Competitive Advantage

In a world where AI can mimic voices and images, your humanity is your edge. People don’t want perfect. They want real. And connection – authentic, vulnerable, human connection – is the key to building trust, loyalty and high-impact teams.

So as you head into your next team meeting, pitch, or strategy session, ask yourself:

• Am I truly connecting with this person?

• Am I seeing them, hearing them, feeling with them – or just talking at them?

• And am I showing up as the most authentic version of myself?

Listen to the Full Episode

This blog only scratches the surface of what we explore in this week’s Impactful Teamwork episode. So I invite you to take 20 minutes to tune in – whether you’re on your commute, out walking the dog, or taking a well-earned break.

Ready to Deepen Your Team Connection?

If today’s episode resonated with you and you’re curious about how to bring deeper connection into your team, I’d love to invite you to explore The Team IMPACT Framework – my signature process for transforming teams through trust, leadership and connection.

Drop me a message or connect via julia@businesshorsepower.com, and let’s chat.

Until next time, stay curious, stay connected – and keep creating impactful teamwork.

Show Notes:

Here are the highlights from this episode: