Serve is the Heart of Connect, Serve, and Ask™
Building relationships based on trust and authenticity can be the catalyst for growth and success. At the core of the Connect, Serve, and Ask™ methodology is the principle of serving others before seeking personal gain. By prioritizing the needs and challenges of others, you create a foundation of trust that can lead to meaningful and sustainable professional relationships. This blog post explores the power of serving within the Connect, Serve, and Ask™ model, outlining techniques and reflection questions to guide your journey.
Serve Technique 1: Serve Before You Ask
When engaging in Connect, Serve, and Ask™ (CSA) One-to-Ones, it’s essential to listen actively and engage in specific questioning to uncover the other person’s needs and challenges. By truly understanding their concerns, you can tailor your assistance to provide valuable resources, knowledge, or connections that address their specific issues.
Open-Ended Questions to Foster Service:
- How can I help you?
- Who would you like to meet?
- Who is your ideal client/industry/type of person?
Reflection Questions:
- How effectively have you listened to the needs and challenges of the other person, and what specific insights have you gained that can guide your approach?
- What steps can you take to ensure that the knowledge, resources, or connections you offer truly align with their expressed needs and contribute to building trust and collaboration?
Serve Technique 2: Be of Service to Others
Being of service in professional “connections” requires offering assistance, resources or introductions tailored to the other person’s goals. By generously sharing your expertise, experiences, and network, you help them overcome obstacles and demonstrate your commitment to their success.
Open-Ended Questions to Elicit Needs:
- How can my expertise help? (This sample question can be used to help the other person in other ways besides introductions.)
- Who would you like to meet? (This sample question can be used to help the other person with introductions.)
Reflection Questions:
- How have you proactively identified and offered assistance that aligns with the other person’s goals, and what impact has this had on building the relationship?
- What specific opportunities have you found to add value and support their growth, and how can you continue to enhance your service to maintain strong professional ties?
Serve Technique 3: Follow-Through
Effective progress and accountability in CSA One-to-Ones rely on clear and actionable steps. Identifying realistic, attainable, and measurable actions ensures both parties can track progress and maintain accountability. Summarizing these in a follow-up email can solidify understanding and commitment.
Reflection Questions:
- How clearly have you articulated the action steps agreed upon during the meeting, and what strategies can you implement to ensure they are followed through with precision?
- In what ways can you reinforce accountability and mutual understanding to ensure the successful execution of these steps, thereby strengthening the relationship?
Conclusion
The essence of Connect, Serve, and Ask™ lies in serving others to create an environment of trust and collaboration. By listening, understanding, and acting on the needs of your professional connections, you lay the groundwork for relationships that are mutually beneficial and enduring. The techniques outlined here—serving before asking, being of service, and following through—offer a pathway to stronger, more trusting business relationships. Embrace these principles as you embark on your journey to becoming a true champion for others, knowing that authentic service fosters genuine connections and paves the way for shared success. Members can view even more resources here
Take action today by reaching out to a colleague, asking how you can help them reach their goals, and begin cultivating a partnership rooted in genuine service and trust.
Written by: Clay Hicks
“When you focus on the relationship and not the outcome, your outcomes become more predictable”
