Episode Overview

Podcast: Young and Profiting with Hala Taha
Episode: Michelle Tillis Lederman: 7 Mindset Shifts That Turn Networking Into Your Greatest Advantage | Leadership | YAPClassic
Date: November 28, 2025
Guest: Michelle Tillis Lederman – Leadership expert, executive coach, and author of “The Connector’s Advantage”

Main Theme:
Hala Taha rewinds her conversation with Michelle Tillis Lederman to explore the essential mindset shifts that transform “networking” into authentic, impactful connection. Michelle reveals her framework of the seven connector mindsets, explains why real relationships are key to professional and personal success (especially in the AI era), and delivers actionable advice on transforming your approach from collecting contacts to building trust-rich, mutually beneficial networks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Connector’s Advantage & “Luck”

• Not Luck, But Connection:
  • Many perceive Michelle’s success as luck, but she credits her network:
    • “It wasn’t luck that things serendipitously happened...when you have those relationships and are clear about what you want and ask for it, things happen. And they happen faster, easier, and often with a much better result. That’s what I define the connector’s advantage as.” – Michelle (02:24)
• Relationships as Assets:
  • Both for individuals and organizations, relationships are the “greatest asset.” Connected cultures drive retention, loyalty, and performance.

2. Connection in the Age of AI

• AI is a Tool, Not a Replacement:
  • AI accelerates technical tasks, but it cannot replace soft skills like connection and authenticity.
    • “Use [AI] for what it does, which is speed us up, but make sure you bookend it with the essence of you.” – Michelle (05:39)
• Soft Skills as Differentiators:
  • As automation increases, being a connector—and real, human connection—becomes more valuable.

3. The Spectrum of Connectors

• Levels of Connection:
  • Two spectrums: breadth & depth of connections, and tendency to initiate vs. respond. Most people are “emerging connectors”, but with skill-building, can become “acting connectors” who prioritize and initiate connections.
  • Beyond that, niche connectors (deep in one area) and global super connectors (broad and deep across fields) exist.
    • “You can be a global niche connector and you can be a global super connector...the ability to create those, or I should say, connect those dots anywhere and with anyone.” – Michelle (08:30)

4. Seven Mindsets of a Connector

(In-Depth: Openness; Highlights: Others)

a. Be Open and Accepting

• Self and Others:
  • Openness is bi-directional: we must accept others AND ourselves—including recognizing and flexing our “unique charms”.
    • “To be open is to access the law of authenticity…Being authentic does not give you permission to be a jerk. But being open and accepting has us understand when we have attributes that might not be working for us and how to flex them.” – Michelle (10:51)
• Handling Bias:
  • Stay open to being wrong, question assumptions, and recognize unconscious bias.
    • Four Questions to Check Assumptions (13:45):
      • What don’t I know?
      • How else could I interpret it?
      • What if I’m wrong?
      • Am I trying to be right?

b. Emotional Intelligence (23:02)

• Self-mastery & Social mastery:
  • Self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation → Social awareness, collaboration.
    • “Pick up on those social cues…listening with your eyes as well as your ears.” – Michelle

c. Have a Clear Vision (26:19)

• Vision Drives Results & Asks:
  • A vision doesn’t have to mean a ten-year plan—short-term goals are powerful.
  • Knowing your goals makes it easy to recognize and accept help, and to articulate asks.
    • “If you don’t know what you want, you can’t get it.” – Michelle

d. Trust, Abundance, Social & Curious, Conscientiousness, Generosity (42:21)

• Trust: Foundation of relationships. (Four pillars: authenticity, vulnerability, transparency, consistency)
• Abundance: Scarcity mindset blocks connection.
  • “I have no competition. I only have potential strategic alliances.” – Michelle (44:36)
• Social & Curious: It’s not about being an extrovert, but being genuinely curious—even about one person. Find your style but stretch outside comfort zones.
• Conscientious: Do what you say, follow up, set boundaries.
• Generosity: Givers succeed—think about how to add value for others.

5. The Art of Asking (34:53 – 42:06)

• You Must Ask for What You Want:

  • “If you don’t ask, the answer is no. If you ask, you immediately increase your odds.” – Michelle (35:18)

• Types of Asks:

  • Opt-Out Ask: Make it EASY to say no without risking relationship.
    • Ex: “If you have time…”
  • Make-It-Easy Ask: Offer options, alternatives, or shrinking requests until yes is possible.
  • WIIFM (“What’s In It For Me”) Ask: Highlight the benefit—to the recipient or their org.
  • Non-Ask: Share goals enthusiastically to invite organic offers of help.

6. Tactical Networking & Adding Value (47:59)

• Introduce Within Your Network:
  • Double opt-in introductions build trust and preserve boundaries, especially with high-profile network members.
    • “When the intro is equal, you won’t necessarily have to do the permissions all the time. When they’re unequal, you want to make sure you’re at least doing the permission at the higher level.” – Michelle (49:38)
• Other Generosity Methods:
  • Information, invitations, appreciation, public recognition, light touches (likes, comments, “thinking of you” texts), cold “it’s been too long” emails, and reconnecting through old email/text scrolls.

7. Hybrid Work & Connection (52:09)

• Be Intentional with In-Person Time:
  • Design agendas and routines to create “water cooler” moments, even digitally. Assign rotating “connection activities” to foster inclusion and rapport.
  • “Build some of those things in.” – Michelle

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Relationships and people in your life are your greatest asset.” – Michelle (03:27)
• “AI is kind of exciting and scary all at the same time…make sure you’re still leveraging all the skills that everyone else brings to the table.” – Michelle (04:33)
• “If you don’t ask, the answer is no. If you ask, you immediately increase your odds.” – Michelle (35:18)
• “A unique charm is not a weakness. Your confidence is your strength…It is not always working in your interactions, so how do I flex in that moment?” – Michelle (20:19)
• “I have no competition. I only have potential strategic alliances.” – Michelle (44:36)
• “Network not for need or for now, but build a relationship that you want to, that you get to, that will sustain you all the way through.” – Michelle (53:27)

Important Timestamps (MM:SS)

• 02:24 – It’s not luck, it’s being a connector.
• 05:36 – Why soft skills will matter more in an AI-driven future.
• 06:30 – 10:06 – Levels & types of connectors: spectrum explained.
• 10:51 – 14:00 – Mindset 1: Openness & tackling unconscious bias.
• 14:40 – 16:14 – The Johari window for self-awareness.
• 19:35 – 22:27 – Unique charms: Call out and flex your qualities.
• 23:02 – 25:58 – Five levels of emotional intelligence (EI); EI assessments.
• 26:19 – 28:29 – Mindset 2: Clear vision—yearly sticky notes & goals.
• 34:53 – 42:06 – Five types of asks explained in depth.
• 42:21 – 47:59 – Remaining mindsets (abundance, trust, curiosity, etc.)
• 47:59 – 51:50 – How to add value: introductions, touches, reviving old connections.
• 52:09 – 53:19 – Building connection in a hybrid work environment.
• 53:27 – Michelle’s secret: “Relationships. Network not for need or for now…”

Final Takeaways

• Connection is a mindset before it’s a skill—being open, self-aware, abundant, and generous transforms “networking” into an advantage.
• Soft skills and genuine connections are more critical than ever in the digital, AI-powered age.
• Concrete frameworks—like the types of “asks”—can demystify and empower effective, authentic networking, even for introverts.
• Intentionality and generosity in relationships are the paths to faster, easier, better results in business and life.

Links:

• Michelle Tillis Lederman’s website: michelletillislederman.com
• Find Michelle on LinkedIn and all major socials (see show notes for direct links)