--- title: To Communicate Effectively, First Make a Connection description: Offered through the chamber of commerce, Rhonda Parkhurst, an executive director for the John Maxwell Team, guided us through ways we can all communicate effectively. image: https://www.kuzneski.com/hubfs/Rhonda%20Parkhurst.jpeg --- - [724-717-6004](tel:7247176004) [![Getting Started is Easy](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/6680537/4daca9d5-4d43-4aac-bdcd-30d781af3c89.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/6680537/4daca9d5-4d43-4aac-bdcd-30d781af3c89) [tel:7247176004](tel:7247176004) [![](https://www.kuzneski.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kuzneski%20Logo.%20Final-2.jpg?width=1441&height=282&name=Kuzneski%20Logo.%20Final-2.jpg)](https://www.kuzneski.com) - [ARE WE A FIT?](https://www.kuzneski.com/are-we-a-fit) - [EMPLOYEE BENEFITS](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/employee-benefits) - [HR & COMPLIANCE](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/hr-compliance) - [PAYROLL & HRIS](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/payroll-hris) - [BUSINESS INSURANCE](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/business-insurance) - [ABOUT](https://www.kuzneski.com/about-kuzneski-insurance-group) - [ABOUT US](https://www.kuzneski.com/about-kuzneski-insurance-group) - [CAREERS](https://www.kuzneski.com/careers) - [INTERNSHIPS](https://www.kuzneski.com/internships) - [LEARN](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog) - [BLOG](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog) - [Compliance Webinars](https://www.kuzneski.com/compliance-webinars) - [ARE WE A FIT?](https://www.kuzneski.com/are-we-a-fit) - [EMPLOYEE BENEFITS](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/employee-benefits) - [HR & COMPLIANCE](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/hr-compliance) - [PAYROLL & HRIS](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/payroll-hris) - [BUSINESS INSURANCE](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/business-insurance) - [ABOUT](https://www.kuzneski.com/about-kuzneski-insurance-group) - [ABOUT US](https://www.kuzneski.com/about-kuzneski-insurance-group) - [CAREERS](https://www.kuzneski.com/careers) - [INTERNSHIPS](https://www.kuzneski.com/internships) - [LEARN](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog) - [BLOG](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog) - [Compliance Webinars](https://www.kuzneski.com/compliance-webinars) [Culture](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/tag/culture), [General](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/tag/general) # To Communicate Effectively, First Make a Connection [Jason Levan](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/author/jason-levan) / November 16, 2021 ![Rhonda Parkhurst](https://www.kuzneski.com/hubfs/Rhonda%20Parkhurst.jpeg) [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=) [![Share on twitter](https://7528304.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528304/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/twitter-color.png?width=24&name=twitter-color.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=&url=&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on pinterest](https://7528311.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528311/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/pinterest-color.png?width=24&name=pinterest-color.png)](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=&media=) I had the opportunity recently to attend a communications workshop in our hometown of Indiana, based on a book by best-selling author and speaker John C. Maxwell. It was right up my alley, if you look at my bio! Offered through the chamber of commerce, Rhonda Parkhurst, an executive director for the John Maxwell Team, guided us through ways we can all communicate more effectively – but with a caveat. You cannot do that, she said, unless you first connect with people.  Here are some key takeaways from the workshop:  - Effective communication starts with the ability to connect with fellow employees, our boss, even our significant other. Applying these principles can strengthen both professional and personal relationships, Rhonda said. - Put others first. Even though it’s counter to human nature, we can’t connect with people unless we can relate to them and look at things from their point of view. "It's not about you," Rhonda stressed. - The ability to connect with others begins with understanding the value of people. A professor once ended an exam by asking the name of the cleaning lady. No one got it correct. His point? Even though the students had seen her numerous times, no one had taken the time to make a connection with her by simply asking her name. - This one’s easier said than done for most people: Do more listening than talking. Simply being available, asking questions and actively listening helps you find common ground. - If possible, get to know something about people before meeting with them. One marketing leader who was fortunate enough to get a 10-minute sit-down with renowned financial investor Warren Buffett discovered through research that his favorite drink is Cherry Coke. She brought him one, and Buffett was so impressed, he granted her an hour and a half!  These tips appear to be even more relevant now, says Mark Hilliard, president of the chamber of commerce. He said a number of local business leaders have told him it appears that during the COVID-19 pandemic, “people have forgotten how to communicate.” And now that people are settling back into the office after working from home, tensions seem to be running higher than ever. “These are big issues,” he said.    ### [Jason Levan](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/author/jason-levan) Jason Levan joined Kuzneski Insurance Group in 2021 as Director of Communications and Content after his first career as a newspaper reporter and editor. In Act II, he oversees the content marketing for the company, with the goal of making the insurance world easier to understand and navigate for our clients. When he’s not at work, you can often find him “banging and clanging” in the gym, or spending time with his family. [Follow me on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/jason.levan.1) [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/levanjason/) ### Share Your Thoughts ## You may also like [Culture](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/tag/culture), [Giving back](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/tag/giving-back), [Kuzneski News](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/tag/kuzneski-news) ## [Community Pitches in to Help IHS Students](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/community-pitches-in-to-help-ihs-students) [Jason Levan](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/author/jason-levan) / October 29, 2021 [Read more](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/community-pitches-in-to-help-ihs-students) [Giving back](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/tag/giving-back), [Kuzneski News](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/tag/kuzneski-news), [Partnerships](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/tag/partnerships) ## [A Lot in Common: Kuzneskis Pledge Support for Coffee Bar Fundraiser](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/a-lot-in-common-kuzneskis-pledge-support-for-coffee-bar-fundraiser) [Jason Levan](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/author/jason-levan) / October 22, 2021 [Read more](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/a-lot-in-common-kuzneskis-pledge-support-for-coffee-bar-fundraiser) ## Subscribe to our freshest ideas ## Headquarters 27 North Sixth Street Indiana, PA 15701 Phone: (724) 349-1919 [Contact Us](https://www.kuzneski.com/contact-us) ## Pittsburgh 6401 Penn Ave., 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Phone: (724) 349-1919 [Contact Us](https://www.kuzneski.com/contact-us) ## Solutions - [Are We A Fit?](https://www.kuzneski.com/are-we-a-fit) - [Employee Benefits](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/employee-benefits) - [HR & Compliance](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/hr-compliance) - [Payroll & HRIS](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/payroll-hris) - [Business Insurance](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/business-insurance) ## About - [About Us](https://www.kuzneski.com/about-kuzneski-insurance-group) - [Careers](https://www.kuzneski.com/careers) ## Learn - [Blog](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog) - [COVID-19 Response](https://www.kuzneski.com/covid-19) - [COVID-19 Webinars](https://www.kuzneski.com/covid-19-webinars) ### Subscribe to our freshest ideas ## Follow [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/kuzneskigroup/) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/kuzneski-financial-group/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/KuzneskiGroup) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/kuzneskiig/?hl=en) --- [![Kuzneski Logo](https://www.kuzneski.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kuzneski%20Logo.%20White.png?width=250&height=143&name=Kuzneski%20Logo.%20White.png "Kuzneski Logo")](https://www.kuzneski.com/) Copyright © 2026 Kuzneski Insurance Group - [Legal Stuff](https://www.kuzneski.com/legal-stuff) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.kuzneski.com/privacy-policy-kuzneski)