Technology is taking over our lives in ways we never knew were possible. Digital worlds are becoming more seamless, AI is replacing entry level work, and the online space is becoming more complex with each day.
And despite all of this change, there’s one constant that I believe will remain in place for a very long time, if not in infinity:
Humans need humans.
Humans have been built to thrive off of connection and beneficial relationships. Study after study have proven how detrimental isolation and a lack of human interaction can be for development and general health. According to this 2023 study, social isolation increased all-cause mortality by a whopping 32%, and loneliness increased it by 14%.
Take the pandemic for example: we were all forced to live our lives in isolation for far too long. We spent weeks at a time in our homes, playing games, working on laptops, and creating zoom background images that made our homes look a little less messy.
For a bit, it was ok. There were even companies who renamed themselves and declared that the world would never go back to celebrating in person experiences. But then we all began to notice how lonely it can be to live in an entirely digital world. Once the world started to open up again, people craved social interaction in face to face, real world experiences. In fact, Gen Z, the generation that spent their middle and high school years in lockdown, are much more keen than other generations to have access to in office experiences, primarily for relationship building.
Humans need humans.
So how do we go about building relationships when the world is so digital? Here’s my perspective when it comes to building relationships with people at work:
Use technology to propel your work forward.
There is a plethora of tools out there that can make you more efficient, productive, and effective. AI chat bots can help brainstorm templates and strategy plans. Design platforms can help you quickly iterate on assets for proofs of concept. Cloud services can do immense amounts of research for you.
Use people to nurture your soul and activate your creative brain.
Spend time connecting with the people you work with. Use the efficiency you’ve gained in your technological advances to slow down and deepen your person to person connections. Random run ins can bring your project top of mind, kitchen chats can push a project forward, and a quick casual conversation can humanize a fraught business relationship.
Here’s how to apply this concept to your work life:
Consider your work location policy. Adjust it to find time to see coworkers in person (even 3 hours at the office can help!)
Schedule catch up lunches and coffee walks
Linger at the water cooler / coffee machine / refrigerator for just a bit
Sit and work at your office’s kitchen table - people will naturally approach you
Look people in eye and say hello (groundbreaking, I know)
Fast moving, major technological advancements can feel overwhelming and scary. But don’t forget that real human connection can’t be replaced - we need each other!
Links I loved this week:
Employers are buried in AI generated resumes (another reason for that in person connection)
Gen Z founded startups are using Tiktok instead of press releases to take their companies out of stealth
On food: it’s all about the summer peaches for me