Rediscovering Connection

Written By Krista

Building meaningful connections is often seen as a natural part of childhood, yet as adults, many of us struggle to nurture and maintain friendships. Rhaina Cohen’s "What Adults Forget About Friendship" explores why these connections matter and how intentionality can restore and strengthen them. At Steele Roar, we believe that fostering authentic relationships is not only valuable in our personal lives but also essential for professional growth.

Award-winning journalist, Rhaina Cohen

Here are three actionable tips to make meaningful connections, inspired by Cohen’s insights and aligned with Steele Roar’s mission of transformative leadership and collaboration:

1. Prioritize Quality Time Over Convenience

Cohen emphasizes the importance of carving out time for connection, even when busy schedules compete for our attention. In leadership, this translates to intentional check-ins, mentorship moments, and team-building activities. Whether it’s a one-on-one coffee chat or a collaborative brainstorming session, making time for meaningful conversations strengthens trust and fosters a culture of belonging.

2. Embrace Vulnerability and Authenticity

Meaningful friendships often deepen through vulnerability. Leaders can create similar connections by embracing authentic conversations and encouraging open dialogue within their teams. At Steele Roar, we encourage leaders to reflect on their strengths and challenges, creating spaces where others feel empowered to do the same. This authenticity leads to stronger relationships and more effective collaboration.

3. Nurture Reciprocal Support

Friendships thrive on mutual support. In a professional setting, this means recognizing the contributions of others, offering help when needed, and celebrating collective successes. At Steele Roar, we believe in the power of mentorship and peer learning. By actively supporting colleagues’ growth and development, leaders build lasting, impactful connections that drive both personal and organizational success.

Meaningful connections don’t just enhance our personal lives — they elevate leadership, foster collaboration, and inspire transformation. Lane Moore also addresses adult connection with the use of humor in her books You Will Find Your People: How To Make Meaningful Friendships As An Adult and How To Be Alone: If You Want To And Even If You Don’t.

Take a moment to reflect: How can you intentionally build and strengthen connections? How does your approach to building connection influence your professional network? 

At Steele Roar, our mission is to support people in building meaningful connections through authenticity and purpose whether as an individual, a community member or a leader.

Krista

Krista Ferrell is an accomplished leader in the procurement and advising sectors, currently serving as the CEO of Sterling Advising, where she leverages her extensive expertise to support organizations in achieving strategic growth and operational excellence. Prior to this, Krista held the role of Executive Director at the National Association of Educational Procurement, where she was instrumental in advancing procurement best practices within higher education. She also served as Assistant Executive Director for the National Association of State Procurement Officials, driving initiatives that enhanced procurement standards and collaboration across state agencies.

With a solid foundation in public sector procurement, Krista spent a decade with the West Virginia State Purchasing Division, where she progressed to Buyer Supervisor, managing critical procurement processes and supervising procurement activities to ensure efficient operations. Her career is marked by a commitment to innovation, operational integrity, and fostering collaboration across various sectors.

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