Moments that Matter: How to Weave Connection into How We Learn and Grow at an Organization
Connection holds various meanings for different individuals. For me, it symbolizes the fabric that binds our organization and is the undercurrent of all our systems. We thrive, acquire knowledge, and cooperate to achieve common objectives through connection. After working 100% remotely for 10 years, I hadn’t thought too deeply about how I connected until the pandemic hit in 2020. As this event began to alter the ways of working for many organizations, I realized that I had the opportunity to support individuals and organizations in encouraging meaningful connections by thinking about how we design for and promote connection at the organizational level.
Putting Connection in the Spotlight
Research has emphasized the importance of connection. Organizations like BetterUp have examined the connection crisis, and the Surgeon General recently released two new reports on the effects of isolation and loneliness, highlighting the significance of social connection and the shift during the pandemic to remote work to help us realize its importance. Numerous studies, including Maslow's hierarchy of needs, consistently demonstrate that belonging and connection are fundamental human needs. Data show that connection significantly impacts our well-being and performance. Developing a growth mindset, embracing failures, and continuously learning are vital to finding contentment and happiness at work. These aspects should be interconnected within an organization and have been receiving more intentional, deliberate focus in our new world of working. Understanding the intrinsic motivation behind connection and its positive impact makes it clear that learning, growing, and building networks are intertwined. Connection is not necessarily bound to proximity – ultimately, it’s tied to what value you define and derive from the experience, regardless of whether that’s a physical or virtual experience. Research shows that when people gather, it's about what they take away from the experience. Priya Parker’s "The Art of Gathering" offers valuable insights into how we should focus on creating meaningful moments along the employee journey. Regardless of where we work, nurturing meaningful connections is possible by being intentional in the way we work, not just how we show up at work.
The Social Learning Revolution
Learning with peers promotes connection and facilitates impactful learning. Sharing knowledge and having accountability partners in a peer learning environment are vital for embedding and distributing knowledge, supported by more data as cohort-based learning structures become more prevalent. It's wonderful to see groups coming together to drive and connect, harnessing the power of forums for shared experiences. Being with others and experiencing the same thing in the same place simultaneously holds immense power.
As we evaluate the employee journey, we have a unique opportunity to integrate and operationalize connections. From establishing connections with new joiners before employment starts to reimagining the onboarding processes and impactful community engagement programs, it is critical to reevaluate and reconstruct our objectives.
We can build connection into our structures through both task-based and relationship-based approaches, for example:
Design cross-functional project teams that invite diverse perspectives for knowledge exchanges.
Build meetings that provide regular openings for building connections, whether a project meeting or a broader functional meeting.
Incorporate icebreakers, gratitude, and recognition into existing meeting structures and workflows.
These actions promote learning, encourage knowledge sharing, and strengthen employee connections.
Owning our Growth
Taking ownership of your growth can start with simply reflecting on what you hope to achieve through learning and development opportunities. Building accountability through connection can be helpful, such as having an accountability buddy like a manager or peer. Every connection provides an occasion to learn something new, and it's also not one size fits all – connection looks different for everyone. This is where reflecting on your personal purpose and what value you derive from connection can allow you to really leverage professional development opportunities to maximize value for you and your organization. If we, as learning and development professionals, can design for connection, individuals can personalize what they hope to take away from the opportunity, opening up autonomy and accountability.
I love the idea that connection is the fabric of an organization. It's how individuals make individual and collective impact. Whether it's a team meeting, an All Hands, or a trust-building workshop, everyone's experience is unique. How you connect, learn, and grow at an organization is individual to you – and that's empowering!
If you are looking for further resources about creating connection, here are some helpful reads:
Priya Parker, Art of Gathering
Marissa King, Social Chemistry
US Surgeon General 2023, Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community
The views in the article are my own and do not necessarily reflect Contentful.
