How to Create Employee Connection In The Workplace

An important thing to remember in an office is that, ultimately, you are not just managing numbers and targets but also people. People work differently from machines, and that is what makes management unique.

Further in this article, we illuminate both an individual and a collective perspective on employee connection and other relevant things. Teamwork and bonding are things that are pervasive across all fields and occupations. Creating an “All for One and One for All” culture improves productivity.

What Is Employee Connection?

It is an important concept in management and also in team dynamics. It is something that applies to pretty much any team environment in almost any industry.

Meaning

In simple terms, employee connection deals with how workers form and maintain good relationships with each other. These relationships are usually professional but can extend to a personal level as well.

Significance

Generally, departments and even companies with a good bond between employees tend to perform better. Indeed, employees cannot always see eye to eye with each other. This is where good people management systems can make a difference.

It is not that successful teams always have people getting along; rather, they find ways to ensure that the differences do not come above collective goals.

For example, two people in the same unit disagree, but they still respect each other and have an understanding that both of them want what is best for the company, which is ultimately good for both of them too. Despite their varied viewpoints, they decided to put the team first and make things work.

The above is a hypothetical instance of a good employee connection. Management plays an important role in laying down the law to ensure healthy practices are in place to build good working relationships.

Common Causes Of Poor Employee Connection

There can be many reasons why a worker may feel disconnected at the office. It may also affect their productivity, which could in turn diminish the synergy of the group.

Over-Working

It may sound a bit counter-intuitive but putting in too much effort can lead to excessive stress, which could reduce performance. It can cause depression and, in some cases, even lead to burnout.

Workers may go into their shells. This will hinder their bonding with co-workers and bosses. Hence, workers need to have a life outside of work.

Problems At Home

One common habit that separates people who are effective in their field is that they ensure problems in one area of their life do not influence another. It is very important to be a successful person in any field.

For example, many workers have problems at home that affect their work, and vice versa. Successful workers also have these problems, but they don’t mix their personal and professional lives. They ensure issues at home do not influence work, and vice versa.

Not Following Their Passions

Most just look at jobs as a way to pay for their expenses and maintain their lifestyle. They never bother to find their purpose, what they would love to do, where they would excel, etc.

This results in them doing jobs they hate. It can make the office seem like a chore and make them feel detached from the group. One of the best ways to excel in your career is to find your passion and follow it.

How To Connect With A New Employee?

Being the new kid on the block is never easy. How someone deals with it varies depending on their personality. Some blend in right away, while others settle down more gradually. There are many ways to integrate newbies into the workplace.

Onboarding Buddies

This is one of the best ways to help a recruit become a part of the office community. Preferably, it should be someone from the same department to make it more effective.

It makes the integration process feel less lonely and more welcoming. Assigning onboarding buddies makes the new employee feel like they already have a connection with someone.

It improves employee connection for the onboarding buddy as well and makes them feel more responsible and involved in the group too. It is good for everyone around.

Brief Them About Workplace Values And Practices

It's best to give newbies a general idea of the dos and don’ts in the office. Both concerning their specific and general conduct in the office. Also, things like communication channels they must follow for both written and spoken messages could be mentioned.

Involve Them In Group and One-to-One Interactions

These could be both formal and informal topics. At first, it is best to only talk about informal things and have general chit-chats. This can be about stuff like where they’re from, their hobbies, and so on.

As they become more knowledgeable about the company, they may be involved in work-related discussions too. This usually happens after they’ve completed the probationary period.

Why Does Employee Connection Matter?

A lot of people think that as long as people come in, do the job, and leave, that is enough, but in truth, it isn’t. It takes more than that just to keep a company running. This is especially true in modern times, when companies tend to take better care of their employees.

Typically Enhances Profitability

A workplace where employees feel connected tends to have more productivity. Each individual performing better does wonders for the group’s synergy.

Big companies tend to have better office cultures, which in turn leads to better quality of work. This often carries over into their profit statements and general growth.

Job Satisfaction

The last thing a manager wants is a workplace where people hate their job. The chances of this happening are far greater in companies that lack in employee connection.

Job satisfaction makes workers look forward to coming to the workplace and contributing to the company. It often motivates them to work harder and give their best.

Employee Retention

If an employee gets a sense of belonging in the workplace and feels that their work is valued by a firm, they are more likely to be committed long-term.

If an employee comes in and leaves after a short time, it usually creates problems as they have to start from scratch with the new employee. They will have to be trained again and will take time to settle in. This can be a bit of a loss for the company.

But if a person comes in, does the job well, and stays for many years, it gives much more stability to the organization. This is something the HR department always looks for: Workers committed to the long-term vision. Such employees are true gems!

How To Build And Maintain Employee Connection In The Workplace

Managers must not only know the technical side of the industry but also other things like teamwork and communication. They must possess both hard and soft skills in the right proportion.

Transparency

It is important to be open and honest with the employees. On the flip side, one must be careful and avoid oversharing information. Too much information given to subordinates (especially if it’s a big mouth) can be detrimental.

In short, it is important to find the balance between transparency and appropriate discretion. Good managers have mastered this art and know exactly how much to disclose and when.

Encourage Team-Building Activities

These have gained popularity in recent years and are great for boosting employee morale. These can include festival parties, especially those that don’t have holidays assigned by the company.

They are great opportunities to let loose and have fun. Workers can let their hair down and get to see a different side of their co-workers. It is great for bonding and making some epic memories.

Involve Everyone In The Vision

Management should share basic details, like the company's vision and mission, with their employees. This makes them feel like the company is interested in keeping them long-term since they are disclosing these details with them.

Also, understanding the organization’s future targets and what it aspires to become can help direct the efforts of employees better. In general, if you are just working without an objective, you won’t go as far compared to when the efforts are targeted towards a goal.

Implement Active Listening

Listening is often an overlooked aspect of communication. If we listen, we may learn something new, but if we speak, we are merely reiterating what we already know. Hence, listening is better.

The importance of active listening is even greater for those in managerial roles or any position of authority, for that matter. This is because without being adept at active listening, they cannot get all the input needed to make important decisions.

Hold More Productive Meetings

Too many business meetings are wasteful. There have been several articles from established business journals illuminating this subject. There are many causes behind this.

One of them is when a proper agenda is not defined, leading to a meeting where people have no idea what they want to gain from it at the start. This also results in the conversation drifting away from what is important.

Sometimes people who do not need to be called for the meeting are called, which leads to a waste of time from them that could’ve been spent doing something productive.

Other factors lead to unproductive meetings, but that is a discussion for another day. The key takeaway is that productive meetings held consistently go a long way toward boosting employee connection in the workplace.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)