Is Your Contribution Valued? Do You Feel Like You Belong?

“What we agree to when we come to work is not to be a machine or a cog but fully human and a valued contributor to the workplace.” - Renee Smith, Founder of A Human Workplace 

Our Current Reality

Last month I was inducted into the team of A Human Workplace. As readers of this blog will know, the purpose of AHW is to partner with and guide organizations to make their workplaces more loving and human. Work is an important and impactful area of our lives and, for too long, many have felt like they leave their humanity at the door as they enter the workplace. Workplaces have become mechanistic, depersonalized, target-driven environments in which divisive behaviors and toxic relationships have become the norm. 

The Scale Of The Problem

The International Labour Organization estimates that over 60% of employees worldwide feel emotionally disconnected from their jobs. That is a HUGE number of people who are effectively on auto-pilot when it comes to 1/3 of their lives. Unsurprisingly, the number corresponds with increasing levels of burnout, decreasing levels of loyalty, and worrying levels of reported feelings of isolation. We are social creatures. Even the Introverts amongst us need to feel connected and valued. 

Early Insights 

So what are the early adopters doing in this space? In short, making work more human means prioritizing the well-being of employees. By giving employees more control over their work, offering flexible hours, and providing access to helpful resources, businesses can ensure that employees have a positive experience. 

Further, employers can take steps to foster a sense of inclusion and belonging. This includes implementing recruitment processes that promote diversity, providing anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training, and creating opportunities for employees to bond with each other. 

In addition to promoting employee wellbeing, forward-thinking businesses are focussing on deepening connections between colleagues. This means encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing, which is especially important as remote work becomes more commonplace. Providing avenues for employees to connect with each other through virtual events, such as happy hours or coffee talks, can help create a sense of community and foster relationships. It all comes down to prioritizing meaningful communication. 

Whether that is having open and honest conversations with employees about their jobs and providing feedback and recognition when warranted or having regular check-ins with your teams and being present during times of stress and uncertainty. Leaders of more human workplaces strive to create an environment where employees feel safe to express their ideas and ask questions without fear of judgment.

Making It Personal 

Like all meaningful change, it all starts with us. So, what are we doing to make our workplaces more human? Every person can decide to be present with their colleagues, to have meaningful conversations, and demonstrate that they care. Decide on who will be the focus of your new practice this week and give it a try!