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How important is having your employees form friendships at work?
Is there a decrease in productivity if employees are also friends?
The answers may surprise you. In fact, fostering meaningful connections among team members can be the secret ingredient to thriving workplace success. Gallup research points to a sevenfold increase in engagement among employees who have a “best friend” at work.
Shasta Nelson brings her deep expertise, grounded in over 15 years of research on human connections, to discuss with us the pivotal role that work friendships and a sense of belonging play in organizational success.
In this episode, Shasta provided invaluable strategies that leaders can implement to cultivate a supportive and high-performing team culture.
The Importance of Belongingness in the Workplace
Shasta emphasized the profound impact of belongingness on organizational outcomes.
It may seem intuitive to separate personal relationships from professional environments to maintain productivity, but data suggests otherwise.
Research demonstrates that employees with strong workplace friendships experience higher engagement, increased creativity, and greater loyalty. Studies conducted by the University and Pennsylvania and the University of Minnesota confirmed that this sense of belonging translates into tangible business benefits, including higher retention rates and improved team performance.
Strained employee relationships and fractured team dynamics contribute to 70-80% of organizational challenges. Investing in fostering these relationships can effectively address various issues—ranging from customer service to collaboration—by building a foundational sense of trust and safety within teams.
Action Steps:
- Conduct Regular Engagement Surveys: Assess the level of employee engagement and sense of belonging regularly through anonymous surveys.
- Implement Team Building Activities: Schedule communication-based activities designed to strengthen relationships among team members. Ensure ample time for everyone to learn more about the individual behind the role.
- Encourage Mentorship Programs: Academy to Innovative HR offers great resources here.
Dispelling Common Misconceptions
Some leaders may fear that forming friendships at work is counterproductive and could lead to gossip and decreased productivity, perhaps even assuming that friends are “goofing off.” Far from being detrimental however, these connections can significantly enhance overall job performance and satisfaction.
Action Steps:
- Ask your team members in your next 1:1 if they feel like they have formed a friendship with someone at work. This could give you clues as to how integrated employees feel. If there is not much connectivity, consider organizing a few social outings that allow people to get to know each other outside of work.
- Encourage positive interactions, regular connections, and safe spaces for vulnerability to create cohesive, high-performing teams. As always, lead by example!
Practical Steps for Leaders
Understanding the importance of fostering workplace relationships is one thing, but executing it is another.
Here are several actionable strategies according to Shasta:
- Give Permission and Role Model Behavior: Leaders should verbally and visibly endorse the importance of friendships at work.
- Facilitate Meaningful Interactions: Incorporate short, personal discussions into meetings. Something as simple as sharing weekend highlights or asking, “What’s one thing that brought you joy this week?” can promote bonding.
- Celebrate Vulnerability: When team members take risks or admit mistakes, respond with positivity and support. This reinforces psychological safety, encouraging a culture where employees feel valued and protected in their vulnerability.
- Leverage Team-Building Tools: Tools like the Enneagram can help team members understand each other’s strengths, motivations, and blind spots. For support with this, consider Leadership E.D.G.E., a program you can run with your team to understand each other’s leadership styles and the impact on performance.
Reflect on Your Own Connectedness
The essence of modern leadership isn’t about maintaining a strict professional distance but about nurturing a community. By caring for your team members’ social needs, you lay the foundation for a happier, more productive, and resilient workforce.
By embracing these insights, we’ve got the power to transform our workplaces into spaces of connection, support, and outstanding performance.
Shasta also shared…
- The historical context of work communities and their impact on modern workplaces.
- Strategies for enhancing team cohesion with remote or hybrid teams.
- Insightful anecdotes illustrating the powerful impact of workplace friendships on overall happiness and performance.
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