Genuine Interest

On a dog walk today, I struck up a conversation with someone I had never met. No agenda. No small talk. Just shared curiosity about nature and its impact on our wellbeing. What followed was a heartfelt exchange about loneliness, connection, and the healing power of the outdoors.

It reminded me of an article I just read by Dr. Ruth Gotian on authentic engagement—how high achievers build meaningful relationships not through polished pitches, but through genuine interest. She shares how simple observations (“That’s a unique purse”) can unlock deep conversations.

The contrast with traditional networking events could not be clearer. There, we often arrive armed with “professional toolboxes” of conversation starters. Useful, yes—but sometimes the most powerful connections come when we drop the script and speak from the heart.
It could be “What’s your favourite walking spot?” or “How are you finding today’s session?” the magic lies in presence, not performance.

Authentic communication is not calculated—it is felt. Whether in a conference hall or in the middle of the countryside, connection starts when we show up as ourselves