Building A Culture of Social Connection

From being picked last in gym class to not being invited out with friends, we all know the dreaded feeling of being left behind. However, recent reports suggest there is an undercurrent of loneliness that is destroying individual well-being and eating away our social fabric. The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has identified an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, citing that 1 in 2 Americans report feeling alone, with some of the highest rates among young adults — and that was before the pandemic. 

Maybe you have felt this in your own life: A spike in screen time. Not knowing your neighbor’s name. Or a lackluster community at your job. 

Anthony Sartori, YNPNdc’s Director of Social Connection, offered another example of how loneliness shows up in our lives: “If you go to a café (and) interact with the barista, it may be an energizing experience. You might laugh. You might smile. You might feel a little bit happier because you know them and they know you. But that’s not the norm, and that’s not typical. You’ll get your cappuccino, and you’ll leave, and that will be it.”

It is these missed opportunities for social connection that Anthony posited as a root cause of the loneliness epidemic. 

As our world becomes more global and increasingly digital, there is almost an expectation to be chronically online, especially for young people. There is an ever-growing threat of being left behind if we are not attuned to the latest trend or following the newest influencer. Yet, in being all-too-consumed with a screen, we overlook the essential, interpersonal relationships right in front of us. 

As Anthony described it, we have blurred the lines between transactional interactions and transformational relationship building. This extends to the workplace, a space that is ripe for social connection but one that often misses the mark. 

“We haven’t cracked the code at all in terms of workplaces,” he remarked. “Social connection in the workplace is, for many people, an ice breaker or a soft skill, but it’s more than that. It’s the place where we find purpose and meaning.”

It’s no surprise that close to two-thirds of the American workforce is lonely, including 57% of nonprofit workers. But how do we consistently build community to maintain the well-being of our workers? According to the U.S. Surgeon General, “Our individual relationships are an untapped resource — a source of healing hiding in plain sight. They can help us live healthier, more productive, and more fulfilled lives.”

This means going beyond asking your coworker how they are doing, expecting to walk away 10 seconds later. It requires us to be unafraid of going deeper to ask someone about their day and to mean it; to be willing to listen and respond with intentionality. It means going to a happy hour without the goal of acquiring a certain number of business cards, but rather, a willingness to be in community with like-minded peers. It also means picking up the phone to call a loved one, even if watching Netflix seems easier. 

This is also why community-based organizations like YNPNdc can be so powerful. They are designed for social connection — to bring people together and foster belonging. 

Next time you feel caught up in the rat race, try holding the door open for a stranger, striking up a conversation with your neighbor in the elevator, or spending five minutes talking to a colleague about anything other than work. You may be surprised how connected you feel at the end of the day.