Connection Before Tasks: Rethinking Virtual Collaboration

In a world where so much of our work happens through screens, building genuine professional relationships can feel harder than ever.In this episode of Making the Connection, I sit down with Cathy Baillargeon, Owner and Chief “Cathy” Officer of Virtual Cathy, to talk about what real connection looks like in a virtual-first workplace. We explore how relationships are built on commonality, not surface-level networking, and why showing your personality early can completely change the tone of a professional relationship.We also dig into delegation — not as a weakness, but as a skill that takes practice — and what it really means to build trust, rapport, and culture on a remote team.In this episode, we cover:What creates genuine connection in professional relationshipsWhy impactful questions matter more than small talk (especially virtually)How to show personality without oversharingThe mindset shifts required to successfully delegateHow to build trust and rapport with virtual assistants and remote teamsPractical tips for getting started with a VA the right wayWhether you’re hiring support, managing a virtual team, or simply trying to build better professional relationships, this conversation is full of thoughtful, practical takeaways you can apply right away.