The Omni-connected experience

Connection—authentic, quality connection—is crucial in life. It builds long-lasting relationships and trust. It is formed when people feel seen and valued. And it makes you feel heard and understood.

Humans are a social bunch. And if you need any more convincing, I turn to Abraham Maslow and his theory of the hierarchy of needs, which places "love and belonging" (or connectedness) at the level just above physical and safety needs; belonging also has to be attained before one can reach the levels of self-worth/esteem and self-actualization, which allow you to become the best you can be.

It follows then that because work is a large element of life, connections are crucial in your professional life, too. So, why, in many organizations, is it simply not that way?

This is not some fluffy idealistic ranting either. There are endless research papers advising us on the benefits of connectedness. Connections among your team can affect an organization's resiliency, as well as employees' well-being, engagement, and quality of work.

My conclusion, then, is that many leaders simply don’t know how to achieve connectedness in the workplace, not that they don’t see its infinite value and potential.

Before I go any further, there is one point I need to clarify. Being connected is not about being plugged into this 24/7 digital world, nor is it about checking your emails before bed and firing off a quick reply while it is fresh (something we have all been guilty of).

I believe connection is about putting relationships and people first and empowering every person to achieve their full potential in the manner that works best for them. Fostering connection is one of the most valuable investments a leader can make.

How To Foster Connection

If I were speaking to a friend who was having a hard time and wanted to connect with others more, or even if I were speaking to one of my children as they embark on their next adventure, I would give them the following advice: Be brave. Find people who share the same interests. Smile and be positive. Open up. Don’t bury your head in your social media account. Work at it.

For business, it's really not that dissimilar.

1. Create a safe environment for your people to excel in. This does not mean simply keeping up with the latest office design; this means ensuring your workplace has a mental space where people feel safe and valued and are able to speak up without fear of judgment. Lead with empathy, trust, and compassion, and work to ensure that this filters through the organization to every manager and team leader.

2. Understand and evaluate your purpose (if necessary). This is the foundation of a strong culture, and a thriving culture is built on connection. When every person understands what their daily work goals contribute to the overall strategy of the company, they can align with the values and purpose. Everyone can work together to the same end.

3. Treat people as the individuals that they are. My team calls this "productionized personalization," which refers to the personal touches that matter so much to people now more than ever. It is what our culture thrives on. Treating your employees as individuals can extend to things such as a "pick-and-mix" benefits scheme, training and development that's bespoke to the person, and personalized presents on birthdays, not just the stock bulk-bought voucher. It is treating your people like celebrities.

4. Do not hide behind technology. Instead, use technology as a way to empower people to have better conversations. Listen to your people. What will help them to do their job better? Linking full circle back to my first point here, create a safe space for people to suggest and discover new and better ways of working. Not only is there a profound sense of connection and ownership, but also this growth mindset can set you up as a business to be agile and forward-thinking.

5. Nurture connections. Connecting people is not a project that can be planned on the latest all-singing, all-dancing planning software. It is something that needs to be worked on. It evolves, and the goalposts shift.

Connection is all-inclusive and requires everyone’s involvement. It's about building trust and ensuring people feel respected and heard. It is about putting people and relationships at the core of what you do and your culture. In turn, this positively affects both the personal and business outcomes. It recognizes that people are not just a number and supports them to become the best they can be. It is about going that extra mile and making that the norm, not just for your people but also, by innate association, for your customers. In a constantly changing world, resilient, long-lasting relationships on all fronts are the ultimate gain.

I’ll leave you to think about that for a moment. If you have a whole organization of awesome people who are the best that they can be, just think of the power and advantage that gives you.

First published in Forbes, July 2022. Photos: Photo by Anderson Rian on Unsplash; Photo by fabio on Unsplash