In today’s fast-paced work environment, the emphasis often lands on productivity, efficiency, and the bottom line. However, the subtle yet profound power of connection is sometimes overshadowed by these metrics.
The notion that time spent in idle chat is wasted needs reevaluation. These seemingly inconsequential moments are, in fact, crucial to team cohesion and a sense of belonging. Building strong connections is what truly drives engagement and resilience in the face of workplace challenges.
Enhanced Engagement and Productivity
Connection is the bedrock of engagement. When employees feel connected, they are more invested in their work and committed to their teams. This sense of belonging translates into higher productivity and job satisfaction.
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Strong connections act as a buffer against workplace stressors like conflict, change, and uncertainty. Teams with solid bonds are more resilient, adapting to challenges with a unified front.
Improved Communication and Collaboration
Open lines of communication are a natural byproduct of strong connections. When team members trust each other, they communicate more openly, leading to better collaboration and innovation.
Fostering a Positive Work Environment
A workplace where connections thrive is one where positivity and mutual support are prevalent. This environment not only attracts top talent but also retains it.
Several companies have successfully integrated the importance of connection into their corporate culture. Here are a few that stand out:
The power of connection in the workplace cannot be underestimated. By nurturing these relationships, companies not only enhance their culture but also drive engagement and resilience. As we move forward in an ever-evolving work landscape, prioritizing connection will be more important than ever.
Choose one teammate you don’t know well or haven’t connected with deeply. Schedule a 20-minute conversation to ask about their goals, challenges, or something they’re excited about for 2025. Share something about yourself in return.
Why It Matters:
This single meaningful exchange can foster understanding, trust, and collaboration, creating a stronger foundation for teamwork in the year ahead.
Encourage participants to share their takeaways (without specifics) to inspire others to connect!
Connection is what drives engagement. In order to do your best work, you have to feel connected to your work in some way. I’ve found that, over their careers, employees will be connected to at least one of four areas:
Generally, employees will connect to one of the above; sometimes, they’ll feel a connection to two or even three. But almost never to all of the above at the same time. And that’s okay; a manager’s job is to figure out where the connection is and meet the worker there.
I visualize connection tactilely: two separate pieces of material held together by some sort of bond. If they are attached at one physical point, they may hold just fine as long as little stress is placed on them. But if someone tries to pull them apart, the bond will fail. If you have at least one very strong connection point, like a weld, you have a better chance of the bond holding despite stress.
But if there are multiple bonding points, even if they’re not as strong as a weld, their connection is stronger; the connection can withstand more strain, more mistakes, and offer more forgiveness. If you can create more points of connection, you’ll have a better shot at increasing longevity and full employee engagement and reducing turnover.
The goal for any manager should be to identify and strengthen connections whenever possible and foster multiple connection points, if possible.
Connection is a multiplier; it gives all your best qualities a boost, and it allows you to take risks you might never take without a strong relationship. Conflict, change, uncertainty, and all the other stressors have less power to break bonds when connection is strong.
