Belonging. It's the most natural human yearning, right? All of us want to find somewhere we can feel happy and comfortable and valued - somewhere where we fit in and are included. It's one of the most powerful behavioural drivers there is. We look for it with our families, our friends and - crucially - our workplaces.
But how has this most basic of impulses been affected by the seismic changes seen in the world of work over the past three years? Well, the first thing to realise is that working alone - or remotely - absolutely doesn't have to lead to isolation. Here at 9-2-3, we all work remotely. We recently got together for lunch and laughed when we realised that we had only met some colleagues in person a handful of times. It felt as though we'd known them for ever! That said, it's been a tough few years for everyone, and it's important that all of us are aware of the need to look after each other - to keep our relationships with our teams strong and protect ourselves and our colleagues from loneliness.
Over the course of the pandemic, we all became hugely aware of the impact of loneliness on both mental and physical health. This isn’t always the same as "being alone" - sometimes it's possible to be lonely in a crowd, of course. Loneliness has been defined as the "state of distress or discomfort that results when one perceives a gap between one's desires for social connection and actual experiences of it". New, hybrid ways of working can be immensely liberating, but as with all new adventures, it's sensible to support everyone through the change, and to head off any difficulties at the pass. After all, prevention's always better than cure...
It seems that loneliness and the importance of belonging should be on organisational radars too. A study by US research organisation BetterUp Labs found that a strong sense of employee belonging led to a 56% increase in job performance, a 75% decrease in sick days and a 50% reduction in turnover risk. Ultimately, they found that humans were less likely to work for a team if they didn't feel that they belonged to that team.
But how do we achieve this in practice - how do we protect each other from loneliness at work? How do we make everyone feel that they belong? Well, it's true that we speak to a lot of candidates who are looking for new roles because they feel disenchanted with their current workplace. Our biggest take-away from those discussions is that it's good to talk. Perhaps the best way to avoid loneliness at work is to acknowledge that more conversations are needed when you're working from home. Meetings are still a huge part of day-to-day working life - there's no getting away from that. It's obviously a good idea to get the whole team together - wherever they may be in the world - once or twice a week to say hello, and discuss any issues. It's sensible for managers and team members to touch base at least every day or two, to answer any questions and check everyone's ok. But let's be honest; if we really want to build our team relationships, then conversations need to go beyond last month's sales figures. Rather than emailing, pick up the phone and talk to a colleague to ask that question. Even better, talk to them on video link - see their faces and get all the non-verbal communication that you miss on email. And while you're at it, ask how their weekend was. How was their rugby match or their big family get-together? How was that trip to the theatre or their day volunteering at the school fair? Working remotely can be amazingly efficient but it's important that we don't lose sight of our colleagues as people, with their own personalities and passions - after all, these are the most vital things they bring to the table in our working lives.
Empowerment was also found to be hugely important. If people are encouraged to notice exclusion, to raise it with their managers and to act to improve it, then each team member involved in that process should hopefully have a stronger sense of belonging. Mentoring - informal and formal - can have a huge impact. The feeling that someone has walked this path before you, and that there's somewhere you can turn for advice, can often reduce the risk of loneliness. And team culture is also a significant factor in whether employees feel lonely at work. A lack of support from above (and indeed from below!) can risk leaving us feeling lonely and disillusioned. On the other hand, a manager who really listens to their team can make their people feel that they are valued and appreciated.
It turns out that belonging really does matter. It matters to each of us as individual human beings and it can make a huge difference to the way in which we do our jobs. Maybe it’s worth taking some time today to look around, either virtually or in person, and offering a metaphorical hand to someone in your team. A happy colleague might even make your working day easier too!
If you’re still not feeling the warm glow of belonging, then you may be thinking about whether it’s time to move on. Please do get in touch to chat to us about the next steps on your professional journey. We always love to hear from you!