What Employers Get Wrong About How People Connect at Work

Khalil Smith, Brigid Lynn, and David Rock on hbr.org

Connection in the workplace is commonly thought of as a single dimension that prioritizes interpersonal relationships with co-workers. However, in a recent research collaboration, the research team at the NeuroLeadership Institute (NLI), along with technology firm Akamai, identified that connection in the workplace is, in fact, made up of four interrelated and essential elements: employee connections with their colleagues, leader, employer, and role. This more accurate and nuanced view of workplace connections has implications for how organizations can design intentional talent strategies to create workplaces where employees are committed, engaged, and performing.