Connection Crisis: Why Building Relationships is More Important Than Ever
After the past few years of social distancing and pandemic living, we could all use some practice around building effective relationships.
In fact, new research from the organization BetterUp (2022) has found that our society, particularly in the workplace, is suffering from a major connection crisis. Their survey of U.S. workers and companies found that employees feel more disconnected that ever. And yet, those organizations who placed an emphasis on building effective relationships and developing that skill in their employees yielded positive benefits including: greater goal attainment, a boost in wellbeing, more positive relationships, and more professional growth.
We also know that our college students are experiencing feelings of loneliness and disconnection more than ever. The Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring shared that a 2021 survey “found that 70% of young people between the ages of 13-25 experience three or fewer meaningful interactions per day, while 40% say they feel they have no one to talk to and that no one really knows them well” (Singer and Rink, Springtide Research Institute, February 2, 2021).
Formal or informal mentoring relationships – simply having an adult to talk to who cares about their wellbeing – has been shown to reduce loneliness for members of Gen Z. This is also true for Wake Forest students who need connection, conversations, and relationships with faculty, staff, mentors, and other adults.
Whether you are a working professional or a college student, we all need people and relationships to thrive and be successful in our day to day lives. That’s why knowing how to build effective relationships is a power skill.
Included below are some additional reading materials on the importance of building relationships as well as a quick guide from the WFU Mentoring Resource Center on strategies and tips for activating this power skill more fully.
Relational power is the new currency of hybrid work (MIT Sloan Management Review, June 20, 2022): Read about how managers can more effectively build rapport with their direct reports at work.
The Connection Crisis: Craving Friends at Work and How to Bring Back Belonging (Forbes, June 14, 2022): This piece focuses on the importance of relationship-building between colleagues at work and the positive benefits that result.