Creating Connection: Building a Culture of Belonging in the Workplace, by Jonathan H. Westover PhD

Abstract: This article explores how organizational leaders can cultivate a culture of connection where employees feel a strong sense of belonging by discussing the importance of social bonds for both individual well-being and organizational success based on research evidence showing that loneliness and lack of social connection are linked to poorer physical and mental health as well as lower performance, productivity and creativity at work, while socially-connected workplaces outperform those characterized by disconnect. The article provides strategies for leaders to promote meaningful social bonds by emphasizing the need to intentionally create an inclusive culture through implementing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to foster a sense of belonging for all employees, cultivating compassion by establishing formal and informal support systems that demonstrate care for employees' wellness, and facilitating shared experiences through community-building activities and social events that help employees connect on a personal level beyond just work tasks. Exemplar companies that comprehensively implement these types of initiatives through programs promoting unusually strong employee collaboration, retention, morale and organizational success are shown to benefit from nurturing social bonds so that when these bonds are cultivated, both individuals and their workplaces can thrive.