People would rather fire off an email, wear out their thumbs texting, or Snapchat from across a Starbucks than speak face-to-face. Technology makes it so easy for people to become distant and dissociated that even those who used to be masters of in-person communication are getting rusty.

But the personal connection isn’t a skill anyone should be so willing to lose.

Because whether you’re giving an impromptu sales pitch or trying to make friends in a bar, your ability to connect is something other people can sense. It’s what makes you memorable and magnetic. Employers and recruiters have known that for years—which is why soft skills like listening and communication are often prized more than technical skills.

To be perfectly honest, though, I wasn’t always the best communicator. In fact, I had a bad time looking people…