Connected at work

People do business with people they know, like and trust. And yet, too many leaders forget the most important people they are doing business with are those who make up their workforce. They forget they need to be connected at work.

Research by EY, shared in a recent article in Harvard Business Review by Karyn Twaronite, reminds us that when people feel like they belong at work, they are more productive, motivated, engaged and 3.5 times more likely to contribute to their fullest potential. 

Furthermore, the research found that people WANT to feel connected to those they work with. And we know that when people feel connected to others, they want to do good things for them. And yes, this definitely includes showing up to do the job they are being paid to do.

Presenteeism (physically showing up at work but being mentally checked out) is one of the biggest costs to business today, estimated to be over $45 billion annually in Australia alone.

I strongly believe the level of presenteeism and disengagement at work is linked to the disconnection too many feel today.

How do you connect with your people so they feel valued? Being connectable isn’t only about how many followers you have on LinkedIn, it’s about how you connect with those who can help your business grow. It’s about offline connection as well as online.

It’s about simple things like saying good morning, asking how your colleague’s weekend was and asking how they are. Simple? Yes, it is. But I can tell you when I worked for a CEO who scurried in, head down, avoiding all eye contact each morning after morning, despite my best efforts to say hello, I did not feel valued. And my work reflected this.

The way you connect with your team and your greater workforce plays a HUGE role in increasing your potential for engagement, productivity and growth.

How connectable are you?