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Over the past few weeks, Ive traveled across the U.S. and Europe, attending back-to-back leadership conferences. These werent your average networking events; they were filled with C-suite executives asking difficult questions in a particularly charged moment: Whats next for DEI? How do we adapt and innovate when it comes to AI? How do we steer employees in a politically divided country? On stage, speakers repeated polished points, but to me, the most important part of what these gatherings offered wasnt the panel talksit was the smaller, informal meetings taking place, the standing around high-tops, and the walks to the various meals. In these candid conversations, leaders spoke with a level of candor and vulnerability that there isnt always room for at the office. Some asked questions, others gave answers. What unified us all was a strong desire for connection, a resolve to make sense of the world together. Todays leaders are seeing the status quo rapidly dissolve and are looking for support and guidance. As often as not, theyre finding it in one another, not in town halls or board meetings. At one conference I attended, an impromptu group debate over what it means for a brand to have a literal voice in the age of AI prompted a CMO to leave that session committed to developing a sonic identity for their brandnot because of extensive market research, but because of a single peer-driven conversation. More and more frequently, I see firsthand the necessity for executives to have a trusted community to turn to for advice. No Longer Just a Nice-To-Have Todays leaders need more than strategy decks. As we face political uncertainty, technological advancements, and cultural shifts, in this landscape, no leader can afford to try to go it alone. Yet, unfortunately, many leaders are, in fact, just thatalone. Im no stranger to navigating executive circles, but even after years, walking into rooms with industry leaders can still be intimidating. No matter how confident you are, it still takes genuine vulnerability to approach someone, introduce yourself, and initiate a meaningful conversation. This discomfort isnt unusual: many executives Ive spoken to, regardless of their tenure, have expressed feeling awkward or isolated. A recent survey found that over 70% of CEOs experience work-related loneliness, and according to former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, feeling lonely at work reduces task performance, limits creativity, and impairs other aspects of executive function such as reasoning and decision making. In a time where clarity and creativity are crucial, building connections is now more necessary than ever. But the reality is, building connections takes work, and it can often be uncomfortable. The benefits are worth it, however, and for lonely or struggling executives, theres cause to be hopeful. Ive personally seen how many leaders openly embrace community and look out for one another, and Ive also seen how quickly things can change for the positive when leaders get themselves into the right rooms. The ability to speak openly, share notes and experiences, and weigh pros and cons with peers before making decisions is a lifeline. The real value The true value of these communities is deeper than getting access to prestigious circles or hitting a flashy number of followers or connections on LinkedIn. Rather, they help leaders grow and thrive by providing: Space for vulnerability: Real conversations happen away from external pressures to perform. These communities invite leaders to be authentic, honest, and ask the hard questions. Shared experiences: A group that can relate to your experiences and open opportunities for growth. Whether youre looking for new marketing strategies or ways to optimize your product pipeline, it helps to speak with those who get it. Fresh perspective: Cross-industry conversations can spark new ideas and remove tunnel vision. A first-time fintech founder might have something to learn from a seasoned executive at a legacy brand, and vice versa. Strength in numbers: Community provides the collective courage to act together, especially during difficult moments. Youll also get the comfort of knowing others around you are also trying to figure things out, and are willing to help you on your journey. Even though the benefits of community are clear, it can be challenging to know how to find one for yourself. The types of trusting, deep relationships Im talking about arent fostered overnight or over Slack. It takes intentionality to grow your village. If youre wondering how to begin, Id start with the below. Six Ways to Build Peer-to-Peer Connection Be curious. Make a concerted effort to learn about others. Ask better questions, listen more deeply, and follow up in a way that shows you paid attention. Prioritize depth over breadth. Its not all about the numbers. Five deep contacts who truly care about you and your success are better than 100 surface-level connections who dont. Attend curated events. Not every conference is worth your time. Carefully select rooms where the guest list and topics align with your interests and where you have the most to contribute. Give first, give often. Generosity builds trust, so focus on what you can do for others, not the other way around. From advice to introductions, share whatevers in your tool kit. DIY. Its not always about receiving an invite. Sometimes, its better to send one. Whether its a monthly dinner, biweekly Zoom call, or simply a private group chat, consistency is key. Remember: you can always build your own table. Lean into vulnerability. You cant earn trust without taking a risk. Be open and honest, and others will follow. A Call to Lead Together Often, leaders only prioritize communities in times of crisis and have to scramble to find the support they need. But the most important relationships arent built overnight, and its even more difficult to forge them when the pressure is already mounting. Thats why the time to invest in community is now. Leaders should prioritize building connections just as intentionally as they do other aspects of their work. The future of business will be determined by those who connect and collaborate, and those who have built the trust required to make an emergency call at an odd hour. If youre a leader, ask yourself today: Do you have a circle you can turn to when the stakes are high? If not, start creating one now. Start with just one conversation, and keep the momentum from there. Trust is built over timedont waste any more of it.
Category:
E-Commerce
Welcome to Pressing Questions, Fast Companys workplace advice column. Every week, deputy editor Kathleen Davis, host of The New Way We Work podcast, will answer the biggest and most pressing workplace questions.Q: How do I make a good first impression?A: Since this is a work-life advice column Ill focus mostly on how you can make a good impression at work, but many of these tips work for other situations in life. Be interested: Ask questions Its a simple truism of most conversations and human interactions: People like to feel like they’re interesting and important. If you know whom youll be meeting, you can go one step further and do a little research in advance. Job candidates who ask questions about the interviewers own time at the company show that they are interested in both the company and the person they hope to work with. The same goes for meeting potential clients, networking connections, etc.Regardless of if you have the chance to prep or not, you can listen to little conversational doors and jumping-off points to be curious and dig further. Most people casually give little details as they talk. Be a good listener and you can ask a follow-up question that shows you’re engaged. In a world where most people are distracted, overwhelmed, or self-absorbed, paying attention goes a long way. Be interesting: Say something memorable While you should be a good listener and ask questions, you wont make a good impression if you don’t say anything of interest. Sharing an interesting did you know fact related to what you are talking about goes a long way. Its a little harder to plan for this, and you certainly dont want to throw in a random non sequitur. But if you’re generally well-read and well-informed, hopefully a natural opportunity to mention something relevant will present itself. Be helpful People like others who help them. Fast Company contributor and psychologist Art Markman says starting your time with a new team by helping others reinforces a favorable first impression and also generates a sense of support from people you can rely on when you need help in the future. He calls this a service mindset and says its particularly valuable for people taking on management roles. A leader who finds ways to help their team achieve their goals can develop loyalty from the people who report to them, which pays significant dividends down the line, he explains. If youre not a manager, you can make a good impression at a new job by being proactive and developing your own plan for your first 90 days. It will help you to have goals laid out so you dont feel as lost and will make a great impression on your new boss and colleagues.Being helpful works in other areas to make a good first impression, too. If someone you are talking to mentions a problem they are having, following up with a recommendation will make a lasting impression.Want more advice on how to make a good impression? Here you go: Four easy ways to make a memorable first impression How to make a good first impression when starting a new job 3 ways to create a good first impression at your new job 2 surprising science-backed ways to make a great first impression (even virtually)
Category:
E-Commerce
Want more housing market stories from Lance Lamberts ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. As Ive been closely tracking in ResiClub’s monthly metro- and county-level housing inventory analysis, over the past year the supply-demand equilibriummeasured by shifts and levels in active housing inventory and months of supplyhas shifted directionally in favor of homebuyers. That doesnt mean buyers have all the leverage, or that the picture is the same in every market. Directionally, however, homebuyers in most markets have gained leverage compared to the 2024 spring housing market. This shift is also showing up in the pricing dataspecifically the rate of change. Indeed, 49 of the nation’s 50 largest metro-area housing markets have a weaker year-over-year home price shift this spring than a year ago. This widespread softening doesnt mean home prices are falling in every marketthey arent. Rather, in this context it means home price growth has decelerated across almost every market over the past 12 months, and more markets are seeing price declines compared to a year ago. In March 2024, 47 of the nations 50 largest housing markets were experiencing rising year-over-year home prices, and just three of them saw falling year-over-year home prices. In March 2025, 34 of the 50 largest housing markets saw rising year-over-year home prices and 16 were falling. ResiClub expects to see the number of major housing markets with falling year-over-year home prices rise further in the coming months. (Full-month April data publishes later this week.) !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}(); As ResiClub has closely documented, the recent softening and weakening have been more pronounced in the Sun Belt, particularly in Gulf housing markets. The greatest weakness is evident in parts of Texas (especially Austin and San Antonio) and Florida (notably its condo market and Southwest Florida). Click here to view an interactive version of the chart below. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}(); Zooming out, the chart above shows what the ongoing price softening looks like in a recent historical context. The yellow line represents the national aggregate, which has decelerated in the Zillow Home Value Index. U.S. home prices went from rising 4.6% from March 2023 to March 2024 to rising just 1.2% from March 2024 to March 2025. The deceleration in home price growth is welcomed by many homebuyers who saw prices overheat during the pandemic. In more markets than last year, homebuyers will see their incomes rise faster than local home prices.
Category:
E-Commerce
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