Social Connections in the Workplace
Intentional connection is crucial for our wellbeing. The impact of loneliness is said to be equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Loneliness is not about the number of connections we have, but about the quality and perception of those connections. Fostering meaningful connections at work can increase engagement and a sense of meaning and purpose. Research tells us that having solid connections at work is a clear indicator of engagement - a precursor for performance. And, in a hybrid or remote environment, creating connections can take up to three times the effort. The investment is worth it!
Here are a few tips and resources to support connection at work.
Tips
- Create a social spot in the workplace where employees can chat and connect (or a channel on Microsoft Teams or other online or in-person collaboration tool)
- Host team-building events quarterly and connect departments through events and challenges
- Do daily check-ins using emojis, an emotion wheel or the Mental Health Continuum Model
- Hold monthly optional online lunch hour or evening game nights, book club, etc.
- If you use Microsoft TEAMS, use the integrated praise function
- Use the first five to ten minutes of every meeting for human connection
- Create a work family wall where people post photos from trips/pets/kids
- Start the morning with a fun question of the day (i.e., favourite animal)
- Provide work-related activities (i.e., trivia, hiking, laughter yoga)
- Start a Thank You Thursday routine – say thanks to one peer every Thursday
- Do an empathetic check-in with one person each week. This means looking below the surface to see how employees are doing.
