Growing by connecting personally
- publish258
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
In the modern workplace, it’s easy to think digital will carry the load, but growth still depends on connecting personally, says Rafael Gozalo, co-founder and co-chief executive, thePower
When we talk about recommendations, introductions and networks, it is easy to overcomplicate. They are all part of your personal brand, of course, but what really matters is a personal connection based on your mission and values.
Here at the thePower, we are about democratising knowledge. When I followed a lead and sat down with the co-founder of a tech unicorn, he looked me in the eye and felt we could do business together. The personal still matters: the promises you keep and the trust you inspire.
From such beginnings, we grew like a rocket. Then, after four years, we had to rethink everything, as Covid changed the way everyone felt about themselves when they realised that life was shorter than they thought.
We had built our network of 300 associate professors through recommendation and we have kept them with us. Even if we have broadened what we now offer to our 200,000 students, our mission remains the same.
That’s why I am so happy to welcome Robert Flint’s book. In the modern workplace, it’s easy to think you can take shortcuts. Let digital carry the load. Of course, systems matter, but growth still relies on your ability to collaborate and network, to partner and share. It’s not the number of interactions that matter, but their quality. At thePower, we now have a whole team building up these connections.
Some of us are naturals, fortunate in how we grew up. The rest of us can learn more about how to establish trust when working with strangers. What is certainly true, particularly in an environment as demanding as the modern workplace, is that we can all improve.
It’s why Robert’s book is such a valuable addition to our knowledge of how to grow in business and in life. Instinctively, you will recognise he is pointing you in the right direction. Even so, it might require decisions that are not easy to make. If, like us at thePower, you have a strong sense of mission and an ambition to grow, then it will be highly rewarding for you to follow what Robert has to say about how far a modern referral strategy can take you. • ‘Working with Strangers: Build your career and grow your business through referrals’ by Robert Fllint, Novaro Publishing, 15th January 2025, ISBN: 978-1-7398640-9-5. See here for further details.
