How to Make Meaningful Connections at Work

In the past year, government employment has been tumultuous, with layoffs, buyouts and shutdowns impacting thousands of workers. To weather the storms, some employees put their heads down and quietly did their work. But putting yourself out there may be the better strategy, said two experts at the recent NextGen Training Virtual Summit.

One common way to do that is through networking. But for many, it can feel like a chore, conjuring thoughts of awkward encounters in a sea of strangers. That’s why Lucy Ellis, former government leader and now principal and founder of The Calyx, thinks “networking” is a misnomer. The better term is “connecting,” she said, during a keynote titled “Connecting With Purpose.”

“In my view, the word sounds like a transaction — it’s a thing you do to people, like you’re working a room the way you work a field, you’re extracting something. No wonder that feels gross,” Ellis said. “But connecting is something else. … Connecting is an inherent part of being human, and for us as public servants and stewards of taxpayer dollars, it is actually a responsibility because connecting is what helps us see possibilities, break down silos, do work that no one of us can do alone, and just frankly, especially in these times, find fulfillment.”

Reframe Your Approach

The trick, therefore, is reframing how we think about networking. Here’s why that matters, Ellis explained:

• Connection is key to collaboration. No one agency can solve challenges such as addressing mental health crises or artificial intelligence’s growth. “They get solved by people across silos who have come to know each other well enough to pick up the phone and say, ‘Yo, I’ve got a weird question. Do you have 10 minutes?’” she said.
• Connection can land you a job. “The next chance to do work that really matters to you is likely to not come through a job posting,” Ellis added. “When it comes to building and moving through your career, it’s not only that relationships are going to get you into new places, new rooms, new opportunities, it’s going to shape how you think about what it is that’s possible and what you could do.”
• Connection fosters understanding. “Connecting isn’t a side activity of public service. That is public service,” the former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official said. For example, she hosts a supper club with some CDC friends, not all of whom agree on a topic. “The reality is, if we’re not in conversation with each other, we can’t solve these challenges,” said Ellis.

Cultivate Your Confidence

Calm your networking nerves by entering a networking event with confidence, Ellis said. Walk in knowing what you have to offer and how you can help others. Here’s how:

• Do your research. Know who’s likely to be there and plan your approach. Study their LinkedIn profile and note relevant posts. “It’s about shaping this real sense of ‘Here is the cream of the crop of the people and the tribe that I want to build,’” she explained.
• Expand your circle. Seek out others in roles outside your field that might support your own. “Join a webinar, go jump on a happy hour — whatever it takes to get outside your echo chamber,” she said.
• Introduce yourself and lead with something open-ended. Ask as a question, make an observation or offer a resource that might be helpful — “something that lets the other person take it where they want to take it,” Ellis said.

Futureproof Yourself

Considering the recent federal upheaval, employees would do well to showcase their value and ability to build trust — either through networking or in everyday interactions with your direct team — because stepping up gets you noticed, said Sabrina Amjad, founder of Vanbri Global Consulting and keynote speaker during a titled “Defining Your Impact in Public Service.”

“People will follow you and people will lean on you when they trust you,” Amjad said. “That is the biggest currency right now, and our workforce skill set has to be adaptable in order to figure out how to do and build and gain that trust.”

She offered some examples of how workers can define their impact:

• After a confusing meeting, follow up to ask for clarifying next steps.
• If you’re taking a class, share what you’re learning with the team.
• Invite someone from another department to work with you for a given period of time.
• During a meeting, ask a junior employee what they think before the most senior one speaks.

“Your peers are going to remember the impact you had in making them feel like they belonged, and they will return the favor to you,” Amjad said. “Be that voice, because when you bring a thought-provoking idea on how to make an impact, it could change the entire dynamics of your team.”

For on-demand versions of these and all other May 2026 NextGen virtual summit sessions, click here.