Breakthrough Research on How to Fix Relationships at Work
Aaron Hurst
Founder US Chamber of Connection, Taproot Foundation, Board.Dev & Imperative
Nearly half of people find it hard to make friends at work, more than a third lack diverse connections
Majority of workers say their organizations aren’t helping them build relationships and find purpose, Imperative study finds
At a time when businesses are struggling to attract and retain employees, many are failing to invest in the most important step they can take, according to a new national survey. The 2022 Workforce Purpose Index from Imperative finds that organizations need to help workers build connections.
In my research, published by MIT Sloan Management Review, Nasdaq , and more, I have found that meaningful relationships are essential to attraction, retention, performance, innovation, and inclusion. The biggest reason people are leaving their jobs is a search for more personal fulfillment. Our previous studies have found that when people lack meaningful relationships at work, there is only a 1% chance they will feel fulfilled.
The good news is that through peer coaching, organizations have found that they can make a tremendous difference, helping their people build these kinds of connections – and the system works whether employees are in the office, remote, or hybrid.
Findings from the new survey include:
Nearly half (46%) of employees find it difficult to make friends at work.
The biggest reasons include not knowing whom to meet (74%), not feeling comfortable initiating a relationship (73%) and not having space for meaningful interactions (65%). People defined “space” however it worked for them, so this can include time in their schedule as well as a physical or virtual space conducive to helping relationships develop.
More than half say managers aren’t helping.
57% of workers said their managers are not helping them build their internal networks. Nearly as many (53%) said managers are not helping them add a sense of purpose to their work.
More than one-third lack diverse connections.
Despite calls for greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace, 35% of employees in the survey said they lack diverse connections at work. Virtually the same amount (34%) said they lack relationships with people who bring different perspectives. Research shows that diverse connections help drive innovation and a company’s performance .
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Employees want to put more time into relationships.
Four-in-five employees are investing at least an hour each week on relationships. More than half (55%) are spending two hours or more. And the vast majority (87%) say they are willing to spend more time working on their relationships.
Why peer coaching is the answer
Organizations need science-based software that empowers employees to develop meaningful relationships and expand connections across their workforce. The technology must scale quickly, provide real-time insight at each step, and deliver proven results.?
Imperative is the enterprise platform that combines AI technology and behavioral science to manage, scale and measure peer coaching programs that build social connections and learning in the new world of work. Built on employe purpose profiling technology, it accelerates trust among employees and enables everyone to serve as coaches for each other.
Peer coaching with Imperative reduces voluntary turnover by 35%. Since its launch in 2020, large and quickly growing companies like Microsoft, Hasbro, Accolade, GSK, Boston Scientific, Airbnb, and Zillow have adopted the platform, using it to address their specific needs. (See case studies at imperative.com/customers .)
See the 2022 Workforce Purpose Index For Actionable Insights on How to Build Meaningful Relationships within your Company
Imperative's most recent Workforce Purpose Index identifies how companies can develop meaningful relationships at work and the systems needed to build a connected workplace, support managers, and drive innovation through the sharing of diverse perspectives.
For a decade, Imperative has studied purpose at work with New York University, PwC, LinkedIn, University of Michigan and Community and CEOs for Corporate Purpose. The 2022 Workforce Purpose Index is the fourth published by Imperative. The survey included a random sample of 517 adults employed full-time at companies with 1,000 or more employees, representing a wide range of industries, ages, occupation levels and educational backgrounds.
About Imperative
Imperative is the enterprise peer coaching platform that combines AI technology and behavioral science to manage, scale, and measure peer coaching programs that address the needs for social connection and learning in the new world of work. Imperative is powered by its employee purpose profiling technology that enables the platform to accelerate trust between employees and enable everyone to serve as a coach for each other - reducing turnover by 35%.
Non-Profit Founder & Executive Director | Social Impact, People, Culture & Corporate Philanthropy Leader | The Greater Good Project | Rawkstars | ex-Hasbro, ex-Digitas | Measuring Success by Fulfillment, Not Abundance.
2 年my two cents = i don't think they know what it takes to foster relationships, because they don't prioritize understanding the employees first. companies deploy a ton of resources to 'understand their customers' but don't generally consider employees as internal customers. personas, sales funnels, segmentation, etc. are all part of the modern vernacular at most orgs when looking at end users, yet these tactics and data aren't applied when discussing employees and engagement strategies.
Coaching revolutionary visionaries, mindful achievers, their teams and organizations to create the futures they want at the intersection of leadership, relationships, wellbeing, and change.
2 年Thank you for sharing these findings and insights.
I help teams with too much to do make the most of their time. | Point:Value + WTP | Discerning Writer. Strategic Facilitator. Essentialist Thinker. Thoughtful Speaker. Jargon Slayer.
2 年So glad you're sharing these insights, Aaron. The fact that people want the flexibility to work from home as well as autonomy doesn't mean they don't want to be part of or connected to a team.
Mindgrub Technologies | Mental Health Advocate | Founder of Be Fearless You Foundation In Memory Of Kimberly Neal (1987-2019) | Women In Technology Mentor
2 年GREAT READ!!!