My Secret to Alignment? Chasing the Wrong Person Onto a Shuttle Bus.
I recently chased a lady onto a shuttle bus.
We were hosting a global partnership event – huge energy, massive R&D breakthroughs on the horizon, and a room full of brilliant colleagues from across the globe. I spotted a key champion of our organization heading for the exit and realized I needed a quick alignment check on a major deliverable.
Since she lives three hours away, I knew this was my only shot at face time. I sprinted.
I missed her elevator by a second, flew down three flights of stairs, and leaped onto a departing shuttle bus just as the doors were closing. I locked eyes with her, ready to dive into our shared goals, only to realize… it wasn’t her.
Cue the awkward apology while the bus pulled away to a parking lot across campus. Deflated and slightly embarrassed, I eventually made my way back to the office, resigning myself to just sending an email.
But then, luck struck. A colleague spotted the real champion in the hallway. I didn’t hesitate. I chased her down (again) and got those two minutes of connection.
Sure, an email is efficient. But an email can’t convey passion, sincerity, or the specific spark of alignment that happens when you look someone in the eye.
The lesson? Authentic human connection is worth the cardio (and the occasional wrong bus).
How far have you gone to get that in-person moment? 👇
#HumanConnection #Networking #Leadership