The Importance of Fostering & Encouraging Social Connections In The Workplace

Building positive relationships in the office is essential for a happy work life. When we say positive relationships, this doesn’t have to mean cooking dinner for your team after office hours or meeting their significant other. It refers to the building of meaningful and social connections in the workplace. This allows time for purposeful and worthwhile conversation with colleagues about topics other than work, because sometimes you just need five minutes away from your screen. These social connections don’t just make you happier and reduce stress, they  increase productivity and they support the production of high quality work. These are just some of the reasons why it’s important to encourage your staff to forge social networks in the workplace, continue reading to find out many more. 

Reduce Stress

Stress is the most prevalent cause of absence from work in Australia as it can lead to some debilitating physical symptoms. It’s natural to feel some stress when you do a job that comes with responsibility and a high workload but when you don’t have the tools to manage it, it can be extremely damaging. Creating an environment where staff are able to build social connections and provide support for each other is the most effective way to reduce stress. Coffee machines in Sunshine Coast are flying off the shelves and this in no coincidence. The modern “water cooler” of the office world allows time for your team to informally debrief whilst getting their caffeine kick. Investing in a coffee machine for the office is the best way to foster and encourage those connections. 

Increased Engagement 

As human beings we are more likely to help someone that we are fond of and this innate social mechanism isn’t exempt from the workplace. When employees build friendships and meaningful connections in the office they are more likely to work well together as a team and offer support to each other. If a colleague is swamped with work close to a deadline or they’re having trouble with a particular client, a workplace with strong social connections is going to pull through with a sense of cohesion and togetherness. They’re also more likely to stick around, which will look great when the company owner is looking at staff retention figures. Creating opportunities for social gatherings such as Christmas parties or an end of financial year ball is a great way to subtly instigate these super important social connections. 

Healthier Lifestyle

Studies have shown that people who have strong social support networks are generally healthier. Not everyone can forge these outside of the workplace so it’s essential that they have the opportunity to do so in the office. Generally healthier, being a broad term, includes a reduction in risk of depression, high blood pressure, and heart disease which is why it’s essential that you create opportunities for your employees to build social connections. We need to steer away from the old fashioned, military approach where staff must stay focused at all times and are discouraged from interacting with their colleagues. By refraining from this ancient way of work there will be less absence and a team who uphold their health and wellbeing. A great way to start the ball rolling is to connect different departments. Mix up the office layout or create a role swap week where you can gently facilitate new professional and personal connections. 

Summary

When you consider the positive impact a socially connected team can have on productivity and efficiency it’s easy to see why creating opportunities for them to build meaningful relationships is essential.