04
The Psychologist
Idle chitchat in the office (March Madness talk included!) is not only good for people, it’s good for business. That’s the findings of Alex “Sandy” Pentland, a psychologist and computer scientist at MIT’s Media Lab. Whether they realize it or not, people socializing in the office are constantly collecting information about norms and culture. “We are part of a social fabric,” Pentland says, “and our basic human nature is to pay attention to other people and share mood and attitudes. That’s really the core of who humans are.” In a study that tracked employees moving throughout the office, Pentland found those who had the most social interactions and connections were among the company’s most successful employees.
05
The Recruiter
Pat Wadors, who until recently served as LinkedIn’s Head of Global Talent, coined the term “DIBs.” In her efforts to address the companies needs for (D)iversity and (I)nclusion, she found something missing from the discussion: a need to (B)elong. “Our brains are hardwired to motivate us toward connection and belonging— it’s how we survive and thrive,” she writes. “Not everyone has that same feeling of belonging where they work, which is a problem. Creating this culture of belonging is necessary for a healthier company, unleashing the very real value of a diverse workforce, and achieving diversity of thought at all levels.”
06
The Employee
Surveys conducted by Gallup found that people not only seek connections in the office, but claim the social aspects of employment are among the major reasons they work. While findings span the gender divide, this sentiment was particularly pronounced among women. Women who claimed to have a best friend at work were twice as likely to be engaged as women without a work friend. The survey discovered that a best friend at work meant an employee was less likely to switch jobs and more likely to have a trusting relationship with their colleagues, leading to greater welling-being and overall productivity. Writing for Gallup, Annamarie Mann summarizes, “When employees possess a deep sense of affiliation with their team members, they are driven to take positive actions that benefit the business—actions they may not otherwise even consider if they did not have strong relationships with their coworkers.”
