Welcome to another Toolkit Tuesday! This week, we’re exploring a voice that brings energy, enthusiasm, and relationships to the forefront of team dynamics: the Connector Voice. (If you missed the previous emails on the 5 Voices you can find them here.)

If you haven’t already done so, you can Discover Your Leadership Voice with a free assessment here. This will help you identify your own primary voice and see how it influences your leadership style.

The Challenge

Do you have team members who naturally build bridges between people, rally others around a vision, and infuse energy into collaboration? These are your first voice Connectors—the champions of relationships, collaboration, and networking. While their ability to energize and unite teams is invaluable, their passion for ideas and relationships can sometimes make them appear distracted or overly optimistic.

When the Connector voice isn’t recognized or guided, teams risk losing out on valuable relational capital and stakeholder buy-in. Without their input, opportunities for collaboration and team engagement may be missed, leaving the team feeling siloed and disconnected.

The Tool: The Connector Voice

Connectors make up about 11% of the population and are often the relational glue that holds teams together. They thrive on making connections, whether it’s between people, ideas, or opportunities.

Superpowers of the Connector Voice

This is how someone with the foundational Connector voice can help a team:

Building Relationships: Connectors naturally foster trust and collaboration, creating stronger bonds within the team and with external stakeholders.
Energizing the Team: Their enthusiasm and positivity inspire others and keep the team motivated, even in challenging times.
Rallying Support for Ideas: Connectors excel at promoting ideas and gaining buy-in, ensuring alignment across diverse groups.

Why This Matters Now

Failing to leverage the Connector voice can result in disengagement and missed opportunities to strengthen relationships, both within and outside the team. In today’s collaborative work environment, Connectors play a critical role in building the networks and trust needed to drive success. Without their influence, teams risk becoming fragmented and less cohesive.

The Result

When leaders recognize and empower the Connector voice, teams benefit from stronger relationships, increased collaboration, and higher levels of engagement. Connectors bring the energy and alignment that help teams operate as a unified force. Their influence ensures that team members feel connected to each other and the broader vision, fostering loyalty and shared purpose.

Action Step

This week, focus on tapping into the Connector voice in your team:

Encourage Relationship-Building: Provide opportunities for team members to connect informally and strengthen bonds.
Empower Their Role as Ambassadors: Assign Connectors roles where they can advocate for ideas, rally support, or build external relationships.
Balance Enthusiasm with Focus: Pair Connectors with Guardians or Pioneers to channel their energy into clear, actionable plans.

Reflect on your team’s dynamics—are you creating space for the Connector voice to strengthen relationships and foster alignment?

The Connector - 5 Voices