“What We Need Now is a Great ReConnection”: Here Are 6 Ways to Deepen Relationships and Make New Ones in This New, Hybrid World

We’ve been hearing about “The Great Resignation” for months, and a recent EY study provides some insight around why people are leaving their jobs in such large numbers. The top three reasons given by employee respondents when asked why they quit their jobs? Not feeling valued by their organizations, not feeling valued by their managers, and not feeling a sense of belonging at work.

These answers suggest to me that we need “The Great ReConnection”—a rekindling of relationships and a renewed focus on community. After living and working in unexpected and socially distanced ways for nearly two years, many of us are ready to deepen our connections with others—and we need information on how to connect with coworkers virtually and in person in our new, hybrid work world.

Your “connection currency”—the social capital you accrue by developing authentic relationships—has likely been diminished following the events of 2020 and 2021. While the past two years have proven that it’s feasible for many (but not all) to work remotely, this time has also underscored the importance of personal connections. It turns out those simple hellos in the hallway, conversations between meetings, and group interactions (coffees, happy hours, offsites, etc.) were a more important part of work than many of us realized. The unmooring of these workplace norms has left a lot of folks feeling a bit untethered—and anxious about reconnecting.

It’s not surprising considering social belonging is a fundamental human need, “hardwired” into human DNA. When employees feel like they belong, they deliver better job performance, take fewer sick days, and are more likely to happily stay in their roles. Connections at work help individuals feel like part of a team, and they can even make work feel easier. Brené Brown captures the essence of belonging best: “Fitting in is the greatest barrier to belonging, because fitting in says, ‘Be like them to be accepted.’ While belonging says, ‘This is who I am. I hope we can make a connection.’”

Making authentic connections is what The Great ReConnection is all about. In an increasingly digital workplace, without the benefit of more proximate in-person conversations, learning how to connect with coworkers virtually is key. And in an increasingly polarized society, where civility and respect often feel like bygone values, authentic human connections are the pathway to kindness and decency.

So, how do we make these connections happen—especially when so many of us are feeling a bit rusty when it comes to social skills? Here’s where I think we can start:

Make in-person meetups happen—even if they’re outside, masked, and socially-distanced.

At Target our commitment is to “Care, Grow & Win Together,” which means team connections are a major priority. Even though Headquarters team members are largely working from home, many of us make frequent (masked) visits to our stores and check in on a regular basis to show our appreciation for our stores and supply chain teams, who are unwavering in their outstanding service to our guests.

Use new and old school methods to sustain authentic connections.

I check in with team members frequently via text, phone call, instant message or even a handwritten note to let people know I’m thinking of them. Sometimes it’s about work, and sometimes it’s to ask a question or chat about something we might’ve connected on while walking to a conference room for a meeting. I find these small actions benefit me as much as the recipient. And if you’re feeling anxious about reconnecting, a thoughtful text or handwritten note can be a fairly easy way to step back into social connectivity.

Make the most of your digital networks.

From a digital currency perspective, we have a lot of options for connecting with coworkers virtually. Take LinkedIn, for example. I’ve made new connections with people I may never meet in person but who have helped fill my cup during the past two years. As part of the “Mocha Moguls”—a group of 10 Black senior executive women leaders from all over the country—I stay connected through Zoom and an active text conversation to a group that has become a trusted and safe space. The group was born during the pandemic, fueled by the murder of George Floyd and too many others, and cemented by authentic conversation. We haven’t been together in person as a group for more than a year, and yet our digital connections have strengthened us personally and professionally in meaningful ways.

Remember this is a very personal journey.

To move forward, we need to meet each other where we are. Some of us are eager and ready to see each other face to face while others still feel most comfortable with virtual options. Some, like me, feel firmly rooted in a hybrid world, wanting to leverage both. Listening and valuing these different perspectives is an important part of nurturing our community of connections.

Hatch a plan for your journey to reconnection—and start today.

Make a list of the people you miss and want to reconnect with in 2022, as well as those you want to get to know. As you make your plan to connect with coworkers virtually or in person, ask yourself, “What’s my goal? What do I want to teach, give, and accomplish? What do I want to learn and receive?” Then, take the first step. Set up a conversation, in person or virtual, or pick up the phone for a chat.

Get comfortable with your discomfort.

Know that it’s okay to feel anxious or uncertain. Remember, the last couple of years have been rough on everyone, in one way or another. We can help each other find our way back by reconnecting. By committing ourselves to The Great ReConnection, we just might find ourselves blessed with the right people in our lives, who challenge our assumptions, celebrate our wins, comfort us in defeat, and keep us moving forward, in the direction of our purpose.

We have an opportunity to make 2022 the year of authentic human connections. Because we need genuine human relationships now more than ever. We need The Great ReConnection.