More Than Small Talk: Why Human Connection Fuels Better Work

Two colleagues in suits joyfully racing down an office hallway on a wheeled chair, embracing a moment of fun and connection amidst the workday.

These days you can spend an entire workday collaborating without feeling connected to a single person. Between back-to-back Zooms and messages flying across Slack, work has never been more efficient—or more isolating. Many of us are producing more than ever while quietly missing the human moments that help us regulate stress, make sense of challenges, and feel grounded in our work.

But while RTO is in full swing, I don’t believe five days a week in the office is the fix. Neither, though, is replacing human interaction with AI. (Does anyone else find the idea of AI “girlfriends” terrifying??) Instead, like most things in life, the answer lies somewhere in between. Because as work becomes more digital and automated, real human connection at work doesn’t fade in importance, it becomes a competitive advantage.

Here we will examine the often-overlooked benefits of human connection at work and how organizations can encourage it. To be clear: this isn’t about forced “fun” with your coworkers, it’s about intentionally designing connection into how work actually happens—so trust, resilience, and performance can grow alongside the tools that are reshaping our jobs. 

We Are Social Beings–Whether We Like It or Not 

I’ll be the first to admit it: as an introvert, I often don’t mind being a team of one. Especially compared to my days as a manager, when it often felt easier to just do something myself as opposed to putting in the effort to guide someone else through it. Remote and asynchronous work have only reinforced that instinct.

Many people I know claim to work better at home or away from others, where they can access deep focus and uninterrupted time. What we forget, though, is that sustained performance can’t happen in a vacuum. 

Research shows that social connection builds trust, lowers cognitive load, and helps us make better decisions. When we’re connected to others, we don’t just share tasks—we share context, regulate stress, and unlock creativity that’s hard to access alone.

To me, this is the crux of the issue: humans aren’t machines. We don’t generate our best ideas or energy on command (or according to an AI prompt.) We borrow motivation, clarity, and resilience from one another. 

What Socialization at Work Actually Does (Beyond Small Talk)

When we talk about socialization at work, we’re not talking about forced icebreakers or shallow water cooler gossip. (How many times have you heard the benefits of bumping into colleagues in the breakroom?) Real workplace connection shows up in quieter, more human ways. Informal check-ins that go beyond status updates, an impromptu coffee break away from your desk, a shared eye roll during a tough week, the laugh that releases tension during a meeting.

Our coworkers are uniquely positioned to offer this kind of support because they understand the work itself—the deadlines, tradeoffs, and invisible pressures that come with it. That shared context and sense of “we’re in this together” matters. Years ago, when I was working on employee engagement at a large bank, we used the Gallup engagement survey. There was one question that got more eyerolls than all the rest: “I have a best friend at work.” But the research behind it is solid. Having a close friend at work helps smooth out the lows and soften the hard days.

When things get intense, connection helps lower stress, restore perspective, and keep teams from tipping into survival mode. Trust grows faster when people feel seen, which in turn improves execution, collaboration, and decision-making in ways no productivity tool ever could.

On the hardest days, social connection can make the work feel manageable. On the best days, it turns success into something worth celebrating together. Far from being a “productivity tax”, social time functions as infrastructure for resilience—quietly supporting the energy, focus, and trust that sustained performance depends on. 

How Organizations Can Design Connection 

Thanks to AI and other technologies, the speed of work continues to increase. Tasks move faster, expectations rise, and it’s easy to slip into a competitive rather than collaborative mentality, or to struggle with anxiety about relevance (this is a common refrain amongst my coaching clients). When efficiency becomes the primary goal, shared meaning, empathy, and trust can erode without anyone noticing.

As work becomes faster, more digital, and increasingly shaped by AI, it’s easy to mistake efficiency for effectiveness.

AI can optimize tasks, but it can’t replace the relational glue that holds teams together. As more “doing” is handled by machines, organizations need to be more deliberate about creating space for “being” together to make sense of the work, regulate stress, and reconnect to shared purpose. To be clear, this doesn’t mean defaulting back to five days a week in the office. Connection isn’t about proximity; it’s about design.

Organizations that lead well here get specific about when, how, and why connection happens. They use technology to support connection, not replace it, designing rhythms that work across hybrid, remote, and in-person environments. That might look like starting projects with clear, human-centered kickoffs that align on purpose and priorities, or closing cycles with retrospectives and after-action reviews that bring people together to reflect on both outcomes and experience.

At the team level, managers should normalize light-touch check-ins that go beyond status updates, creating space for context and taking the emotional temperature of the team.

Managers can model relational behaviors by naming pressure, inviting input, and making it safe to be human at work. 

This investment in genuine relationships matters, not as a feel-good gesture, but as a foundation for how teams show up for each other. When people feel connected and supported, they’re far more likely to pitch in when the going gets tough and ensure no one feels like they’re carrying the weight alone.

And at the organizational level, HR and leaders can protect time for connection by building time for social interactions into the day or using physical space creatively to encourage impromptu gatherings. Things like this send a clear signal that relationships aren’t a distraction from work, they’re part of how good work gets done.

The Bottom Line - Human Connection at Work Matters

As work becomes faster, more digital, and increasingly shaped by AI, it’s easy to mistake efficiency for effectiveness. But connection is what helps people make sense of uncertainty, sustain energy over time, and do their best work, especially when the stakes are high and the path isn’t always clear. Productivity isn’t just about speed. Performance isn’t just output. And work, at its best, is still a deeply human endeavor.

Action Checklist: Encouraging Connection at Work

Connection doesn’t happen by accident—it’s encouraged through everyday choices. Here’s where to start:

For Organizations

✅Design connection intentionally into workflows, not as an add-on.

✅Protect time for shared rituals like kickoffs, retrospectives, and celebrations.

✅Signal clearly that relationships and trust are part of “real work,” especially if you are a manager of people.

For Managers

✅Model relational behaviors: check in on context, not just tasks.

✅Name pressure and uncertainty rather than letting it linger unspoken. Acknowledge when times are difficult.

✅Create space for shared meaning, not just shared deadlines. Understand what motivates each person on your team. 

For Individuals

✅Seek out connection proactively—reach out, check in, share context.

✅Use moments of collaboration to build trust, not just complete tasks. Follow through on commitments. 

✅Remember that asking for support is a professional skill, not a weakness. We all bring something to the table. 

Interested in learning more about building human workplaces and coaching? Send me a note at Katherine@worksproutpartners.com. I look forward to hearing from you!