Laurie Dahl and Shannon Gianola

Great leaders can make you feel 10-feet tall.

That’s how I always felt working with Laurie Dahl and what she appears to be doing again here, posing with me and Shannon Gianola recently when we caught up at Providence Office Park to reminisce about life at Portland’s ABC affiliate, KATU Channel 2-TV Channel 2. The three of us hadn’t seen each other in a while. How long, you ask? As Laurie put it, “We’ve all born and raised full adult children in that time.”

Yikes.

Before all that parenting, Laurie was promotion director at KATU and Shannon and I were her eager underlings, learning the ropes of big-market TV (well, big for us, at least) and having a blast doing it. We were writing and producing promo spots for KATU News and local programs AM Northwest and Two at Four (wow, remember local programming? Like I said, it's been a while). Rubbing shoulders with KATU celebs Jim Bosley, Julie Emry, Mary Starrett, Paul Linnman, and (Shannon’s favorite) Jeff Gianola. So much fun! Laurie is now senior program coordinator in operations integration, clinical programs for Providence Health & Services and Shannon is director of philanthropy at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Two dearer, funnier, and more thoughtful people I do not know, which I was reminded of again during our long-delayed reunion. It was more laughs than epic learnings this time, but I was left with this:

Don't wait to reconnect: It’s easy, as the years roll by and you move from place to place, to lose contact with the people you once knew, worked with, went to battle with, tasted victory and defeat with. It can feel awkward to reach out and invite them to coffee or a call or virtual meeting, if you haven't been in touch for a while. But I’m here to tell you, it’s so worth it. Those people are characters in your story, a vital piece of who you are, and quite possibly the link to where you’re headed next.

If this career journey has taught me anything, it’s the value of reconnecting with old friends, colleagues, and clients. Especially now, especially these days, when technology, the pandemic, and even social and political differences can keep us apart.

Make the effort to reach out. Say hi. Reconnect. You’ll feel 10-feet tall.

Thank you Laurie and Shannon for taking time out to catch up on the reconnect roadshow.

#leadership #friendship #networking #coffee #thankyou