(As I mentioned in my previous newsletter… I’m writing a series on my top three values.. This one on Connection. The next one (in 2 weeks) on Play/Joy… and after that Transformative Learning. All are vital even and especially in our times. … Glad you are here.)
I’m at the counter at my favorite coffee shop, aptly named ”The Coffee Shop” owned and run by Hammerhead Roasters here in Bellingham. From where I’m sitting I can see the Community Food Co-op that I frequent, and behind that the Sehome Hill Arboretum – a conifer dense forest with trails that I have ran, hiked, and meandered for the past twenty years.
All three of these places, are places of connection for me.
Connection is life. Disconnection is death.
For reals.
In 2023 the US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy published an 80-page report entitled, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The US Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.” Wow!
In this report’s opening letter Dr. Murthy states, “The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater that that associated with obesity and physical inactivity.”
Social connection is not just a nice thing to have, it’s vital for our health and well-being – as individuals yes, and for the health and vitality of our organizations and communities.
Several years back I was at Holden Village Retreat Center and a couple who had worked for the Red Cross in disaster relief were speaking. They told the story of FEMA coming to Joplin, Missouri after the tornado wreaked havoc in 2011. They said FEMA left after two days on the ground. Why? Because the local churches already had a robust network of connection and support. The relational infrastructure of connection and trust was already there that allowed the collaboration and recovery efforts to succeed.
Understatement of the year: we are in a time of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). Especially in these times it’s imperative that we intentionally invest in cultivating connectedness in our communities and in our organizations. Yes, for our well-being. And it’s foundational, it’s vital as we need to work together, pivot/improvise, get creative to continue to work that matters.
COVID accelerated the trend that was already present around isolating more and more. Our ”social distancing” (horrible misnomer), that may have kept us safe in the short run, is the the opposite of what keeps us flourishing and thriving in the long run.
In a recent article in The Atlantic entitled ”The Anti-Social Century” the author (Derek Thompson) describes how in the past when we were isolated our bodies told us essentially, ”You need social contact. Reach out.” However, in our current day, we override this signal by jumping on our device which does not give us what we need in terms of true nourishing connections.
As leaders I believe it’s our responsibility to intentionally invest in and cultivate cultures of connection in our organizations, communities, and our own lives as well.
Yes this for your team’s well-being. And when you invest in your team’s well-being and connectedness, they stick around. And you have healthier staff. And there less energy spent on drama, because people have had opportunities to see each other’s humanity and connect as whole people.
And when you’ve invested in connection and trust – in your team and wider life – you find that creativity goes up! Flow state occurrences go up! Energy goes up! True Productivity goes up!
It’s becoming even more clear that we cannot predict what is going to happen. And, no matter what, we need relationships of trust.
So where do you begin? Creating a culture of connectedness and trust is an adaptive challenge (vs. technical problem; see Ron Heifitz).
I’ll suggest a few questions for reflection to start with:
1) How would I rate my team/organization/life (Zero is very isolated, siloed, distrustful…. .10 is high connection, high trust)?
2) What would be made possible if we had greater connectivity and trust? (have fun with this one! Imagine!)
3) What’s a small yet potent step I could take to cultivate connectedness and trust?
Secondly, use Liberating Structures to tap into the wisdom in the room and cultivate connectedness.
Thirdly, drop me a line and let’s have a 30min chat on Zoom, or a coffee in person to explore how I might support your work in cultivating connectedness.
Gratefully,
David Westerlund
Executive Coach,
Designer/Facilitator of Team/Org-wide/Leadership Development Retreats,
Catalyst of Meaningful and Playful Engagement
www.DavidWesterlund.com
david@davidwesterlund.com
