Beyond the Handshake: 10 Creative & Meaningful Ways to Build Real Connection as a Business Professional

By: Behind Her Brand

Let’s face it—most networking advice sounds like it came from a dusty old business manual: “Send a follow-up email.” “Give a firm handshake.” “Offer your business card.”

Helpful? Maybe.

Memorable? Not even a little.

In today’s noisy, fast-paced professional world, connection is currency. But real connection? That’s rare—and powerful. It’s not about surface-level chatter or collecting LinkedIn connections like trading cards. It’s about resonance. Alignment. Mutual energy. It’s about being remembered not because of your title, but because of how you made someone feel.

So, how do you stand out and create authentic bonds that go deeper than “what do you do?” Here are 10 meaningful (and delightfully unexpected) ways to connect as a business professional—without sounding like a walking elevator pitch.

1. Lead With a Micro-Moment Instead of a Mini-Resume

Instead of launching into your title and credentials when someone asks what you do, try offering a single, vivid snapshot from your work—a moment that made you feel alive, surprised, or proud.

Micro-moments evoke emotion and invite connection. They don’t just inform—they pull people in.

Instead of, “I’m in real estate development,” try:“I once walked into a crumbling warehouse and immediately saw a wellness space with plants, sunlight, and yoga mats. Six months later, it became the community’s favorite spot to unwind.”

It’s a tiny story, but it speaks volumes about your imagination, values, and impact.

2. Send a “No-Agenda” Voice Note

In a world of robotic emails and templated DMs, a short, thoughtful voice note can spark a real moment. Just check in, say you were thinking of them, and leave it there. No pitch. No ask. Just presence.

Try this: “I saw your post about launching your new product—just wanted to say congrats. You’ve got magic, and I’m cheering you on.”

3. Curate a Micro-Gift Moment

Forget branded pens. Create a small, unexpected experience that says you matter. Maybe you send someone their favorite tea, a tiny succulent, or a playlist that fits their vibe.

One executive sent a handwritten card and a coffee gift card to every panelist after a webinar—along with a custom Spotify playlist called “Power Moves.” It was thoughtful, simple, and unforgettable.

4. Ask Wildly Unexpected Questions

Ditch “So, what do you do?” and try something that draws out personality and story.

Try:

• “What’s something you’re proud of that doesn’t fit on a resume?”

• “If your career were a Netflix show, what would the title be?”

• “What’s a hill you’d professionally die on?”

  
  

You’ll get better answers—and better conversations.

5. Host a Tiny Table Dinner

Skip the noisy networking mixers. Invite four to six interesting humans to dinner—different industries, similar values. Set a theme like “resilience,” “creative pivots,” or “legacy work,” and encourage intentional dialogue.

Let everyone share one ask and one offer. It creates organic collaboration and support.

6. Create a “Remembered Me” Email

After a great conversation, don’t send a generic thank-you. Craft an email that reflects something they said, not just what they do. Add a relevant article, quote, or even a meme that shows you truly listened.

Try this subject line: “You said something that stuck with me…”

7. Make an Unexpected Introduction That Isn’t Transactional

Too often, introductions are made with a clear benefit in mind. What if you introduced two people simply because you knew they’d connect?

Try this: “You two have wildly different careers but identical obsessions with 90s sitcoms, leadership culture, and oat milk lattes. You need to meet.”

Now you’re not just networking. You’re curating community.

8. Share Your “Why” More Than Your “What”

People don’t connect to what you do. They connect to why you care.

Instead of saying, “I’m a leadership coach,” try: “I help women rebuild confidence after they’ve been talked over in too many boardrooms.”

When people hear passion, they lean in.

9. Host a “Real Talk Roundtable” on Zoom

No sales pitch. No boring slides. Just real professionals, real topics. Themes like “Imposter Syndrome in High Places” or “When You’re Successful but Still Lonely” open up meaningful dialogue.

Keep it small, create a brave space, and facilitate with curiosity, not control.

10. Let People See You Before You’re Polished

We connect through humanity, not perfection. Share behind-the-scenes. Admit mistakes. Let people see the process, not just the highlight reel.

Try this: “This proposal took three tries and three ugly cries, but it’s finally done. Cheers to the messy middle.”

It gives others permission to show up as they are, too.

Connection Isn’t a Skill. It’s a Choice.

You don’t need to network better.

You need to connect deeper.

Connection is built in the moments you choose to be fully present, a little bit vulnerable, and a lot less scripted. It’s not about climbing ladders—it’s about building bridges. It’s about being felt.

So next time you're tempted to lead with a business card—pause.

Lead with curiosity.

Lead with intention.

And watch how the real ones respond.