Why connection and community are so important at work

Alone, we can do so little; together we can do so much.

- Helen Keller

The intensity of the last few years has highlighted what a mass of contradictions we humans

are. We love the flexibility of working from home while simultaneously experiencing

loneliness and an inability to switch off. We crave our own space while feeling cut adrift from

others with technology sometimes acting as more of a barrier than a facilitator when it comes

to those soul-nourishing interactions that energise us.

For all of our talk of autonomy and independence, we are inherently sociable beings and

research shows that people who are more socially connected to family, friends, or their

community are happier, physically healthier and live longer, with fewer mental health

problems.  So how can we incorporate more connection in our working lives?

Firstly, it’s good to understand the distinction between connection and collaboration.

We need opportunities for both but they are not necessarily the same thing.

Collaboration requires more of a strategic mindset – we need to partner with people who

have a different set of skills and experiences to us in order to grow, learn, fill gaps in our

knowledge and improve what we can offer to clients, colleagues and customers.

Connection is more about feeling seen, supported and understood by spending time

with people who share our values, motivate and inspire us.

Here are 5 ways connection and community can make us feel more fulfilled and

perform better in our working lives:

Creative collaboration

If you’re knee-deep in a creative project, bringing in a fresh pair of eyes can help to generate

new ideas as well as refocusing and reenergising you. If work for yourself, you could invite a

fellow freelancer for a coffee to brainstorm ideas on challenging client work. Even if you’re in

different industries, you’ll benefit from each other’s experience and skills. Even better, it’s

the chance to discuss your working life with an understanding peer and feel part of a

supportive wider community. If you work within a company, you could do the same thing

with a colleague who does a similar role in a completely different department.

Networking for inspiration and guidance

You either love or avoid it like the plague, but networking doesn’t have to be intimidating.

The days of formal elevator pitches are thankfully behind us and networking can take any

form you want it to – a monthly meet-up with a relaxed local group like The Creative Duck,

an informal one-to-one coffee or a larger event organised by membership organisations like

City Women’s Network or Found and Flourish. Networking provides opportunities for

growth and stretch, particularly if you’re considering a new career, as it allows you to interact

with people who already do the jobs you’re interested in. Support from others who have

navigated their own career change journeys is invaluable for inspiration and guidance.

Understand yourself better through mentoring

Desk research has its place but if you’re at a career crossroads, a good mentor can support

you in the direction you want to go, helping you to try new approaches and work through

different scenarios. Consider people in your existing network who might be able to guide

you in your career progression and make sure you cultivate the relationship before bringing

up the topic of mentoring. Mentoring can bring huge benefits to both parties, helping to

develop emotional intelligence and an ability to understand and work with others which is

invaluable for any role.

Socialising as a non-negotiable element of every working week

We’re hard-wired to view productivity as the main indicator of success but try turning that on

its head and put your focus on quality interactions. Make every working week memorable

and unique by finding ways to incorporate a social element into each day whether that’s

through short networking events, spending time at a co-working office or going for a coffee

with a friend or colleague. If we don’t interact with others regularly in our working days, we

run the risk of getting stuck in a rut, operating on autopilot and losing motivation. Rather

than slowing us down, pausing to spend time with others sparks fresh ideas, lifts our mood

and boosts our confidence, making us perform better at work. It’s a change of scene for the

mind and its worth its weight in gold.

Accountability

We’ve all been there. You’ve been sitting alone at your desk for far too long and realise that

you’ve spent most of the day procrastinating to avoid work. It can be hard to motivate

yourself for long periods when working from home but other people can help rather than

hinder the process. There is an increasing trend for virtual co-working sessions where you

log in, say hello, keep your cameras on but mics off and work quietly together for an hour or

two. Initiatives like these, which are often run by consultants like Helen Perry and

community groups like London Writer’s Salon, provide a comforting feeling of shared

endeavour and can be incredibly productive. The background murmur of other people in a

co-working office or café creates the same feeling of togetherness. If you’re self-employed,

a Friday morning coffee with a peer can be an opportunity to feedback on your respective

weeks and gently hold each other accountable for the things you’d set out to achieve.

If you would like to create opportunities for more connection and community and would value some support in making this happen, please get in touch