Create a culture of connection and friendship to prevent loneliness at workplace

New Delhi: Loneliness is a terrible feeling that comes up when a person thinks he or she is alone or that other people are ignoring and isolating them. As loneliness is an individual sensation, there are no “hard and fast” rules as to its appearance. Because many people hide their feelings for fear of being embarrassed or to avoid looking weak, it can be hard to tell if someone is lonely. We are social creatures by nature, so it is important to maintain healthy relationships to avoid feeling lonely. So, the best way to prevent loneliness at workplace is to create a culture of connection and friendship.

Here are some basic ways to accomplish this:

Lifestyle and infrastructure

One way to find out what matters to workers is to ask them what they think. Organizations can use this information to make sure it fits with their values and to include loneliness in other activities that promote health and well-being.

Management and Learning

Without feedback from management and peers, organizations won’t be able to notice when an employee feels alone and do something about it. Managers must be able to recognize signs of loneliness in their teams and among their employees in order to intervene.

Strong bonds among employees and managers

When employees know they can talk to their boss about anything, whether in an informal or formal one-on-one setting, they are more likely to feel safe expressing any concerns they may have. Managers who have been in the same position and know the problems of their employees may face or, more likely to make their employees feel confident in their ability to solve problems and keep the lines of communication open.

Dumb down your expectations

Whether it’s because their team has been drastically cut down to the point where they're working alone, or because they're simply overworked and hesitant to speak up, the stress of the workplace can leave some employees feeling lonely and isolated. Employees who are feeling lonely or isolated can benefit from reduced expectations on their part if they can talk to their supervisors and feel heard and cared for by their employers.

Communication

Keeping lines of communication open between employees, their co-workers, supervisors, and the company as a whole can help them feel like they belong at work. A sense of belonging in the workplace helps alleviate loneliness.

External support

Being able to talk to someone outside of work about problems may be helpful, so having access to professional support for employees who are feeling lonely, isolated, or otherwise down can be a huge asset. Every one of the organizations should make it a priority to offer this type of help.