Why social connection matters in keeping employees engaged

Sometime in the last year, “Zoom” became a verb and we all became beyond reliant on the internet. Whether or not you exist in a remote-work paradigm, you’re probably pretty attached to all the modes of digital communication and collaboration that make up the average work day in 2021 America.

But is it working for us?

Future forum polled 5k remote workers and discovered that on most counts, they actually prefer working at home. Their work-life balance feels better, they have less anxiety about work, and their productivity is up.

But on one count, things are worse when working remotely: the sense of belonging in a workplace. The need for human connection is such a critical metric that also needs to be measured!

It’s much harder to tap into when everyone is tethered to their individual laptops in their homes. See the link to the full article in the comments below.

As my clients have discovered over this last year, it’s important to go that extra mile to foster connection in a remote-work scenario.

De-prioritizing productivity in meetings and making time for storytelling. Reaching out to people you don’t see in Zoom calls as frequently. Picking up the phone to make a personal call!

If you really want engaged employees, prioritize that personal connection within your company culture and your own behavior.

Remote work is working for a lot of people. But the metrics fall short when it comes to that oh-so-important sense of belonging. On @FutureForum, read about how “social connection matters as much as internet connection for your employees.” https://bit.ly/3s78Kpv