Creating good connections requires a certain level of selective vulnerability. Basically you have to let the other person see into some portion of your life so they can get to know you as a person rather than a position. Sometimes just revealing a little about something personal such as your likes and dislikes can reap unexpected returns.
A couple of years ago, when I first became a co-chair for the Leadership Ann Arbor program, I rode up to the opening retreat with the program director, my good friend Lindsay McCarthy. We talked about a wide variety of topics including the kinds of food we like. She knew I was a vegetarian, but hadn’t realized that one of the few vegetables I really detest is eggplant. Apparently the vegetarian option at dinner the next night was eggplant parmesan.
After Lindsay found out about my dislike for the purple vegetable, she made a special call (without telling me) to make sure I had something else for dinner. What a wonderful surprise when the waiter placed a remarkably tasty pasta with morel mushroom sauce in front of me.
Even the meat-eaters were eyeing my plate with envy.
So, let this be a lesson to those who want to play their cards close to the vest. Sometimes a little openness can lead to a wonderfully tasty result. Yum!
Photo credit: woodleywonderworks
