Expand, Overlap, Care
A three-move method for building high-quality connections at work, in person or remote.
The framework distills research on high-quality connections (HQCs) into three deliberate moves: Expand, Overlap, and Care. A high-quality connection is defined as an interaction after which both parties feel more open, mutually connected, and energized; the speaker's research found such connections drive end-of-day engagement regardless of how many or how long the interactions are.
Expand means going beyond polite greetings via expansive dialogue. You ask open-ended questions ('What was the highlight of your weekend?' instead of 'How was your weekend?') and answer expansively yourself, sharing a small story or detail that invites reciprocity. Overlap means actively hunting for things in common — pets, music, travel, shared frustrations — and using visual cues (including video backgrounds) as conversation starters so others can find common ground with you. Care means signaling genuine attention: no phone, no scrolling, nodding, laughing, asking related follow-ups, taking notes.
Critically, the moves only work when authentic — others detect performative nodding or hollow questions just as you do. The speaker's data also shows video-on calls produce HQCs equivalent to in-person, while audio-only interactions produce lower-quality connections, and burnout suppresses one's capacity to connect at all.
- High-quality connections boost engagement regardless of interaction count or duration — one good connection is enough.
- Expansive, open-ended questions and expansive answers invite the other person to open up in return.
- Shared interests at any life stage create belonging; visible cues (backgrounds, photos) accelerate the discovery of overlap.
- Undivided attention — no second screen, active listening, related follow-ups — is the visible signal of caring.
- The three moves only work when authentic; performative versions are detected and erode trust.
Built from the speaker's PhD dissertation on high-quality connections (extending Dr. Jane Dutton's research) and pandemic-era studies of remote work, prompted by a first-job review telling her she needed to build relationships with clients.