Gallup is famous for its work on employee engagement. They have a 12-question survey meant to tell leaders whether their company is a good place to work or not, and how likely it is that their people are actively looking for another job. I’m struck by how many of the questions are about connection. If you are a boss, you can make people feel less lonely with a few simple interventions. And that turns out to be a really big deal.
Coupled with the reading I’ve done on loneliness and its detrimental impact on human flourishing, it’s important to surround yourself with people who know and value you.
Especially when work isn’t going well, it’s worth building up and investing in the parts of your life where you feel supported and connected to others. The persistent and corrosive negative cycle that comes from being lonely makes this feel even more true. And although it might feel like it has nothing to do with work, science says it will make you smarter and a better colleague.
