SYLVIANE NUCCIO

When we’re talking about work benefits we usually tend to focus on salary, working hours, vacation, and other benefits. Of course, these are all important elements of every job, but we often forget to inquire about the level and quality of social relationships in our work environment.

Everyday connections between colleagues and managers play an important role in the overall productivity of the company. With this in mind, here is how positive workplace social interactions can be beneficial for your business.

Reduced Stress and Tension

Working under the constant threat of being scolded and rebuked by your managers increases the amount of stress. Together with toxic relationships among coworkers, this is a perfect combo for continuous tension in the workplace.

If you feel anxious most of the time your work conditions are less than ideal. According to a new study carried out by Harvard University, optimism brings success, and not the other way around.

The author of this study, Shawn Achor, also claims that only 25% of employees’ success in the workplace can be predicted on their abilities and educations. The other 75% of their expected results will depend on the level of happiness and social connectivity in the workplace. In line with that, managers and business owners need to do their best to apply positive psychology in the workplace by cultivating supportive social relationships.

Smooth Team Organization

Let’s say that your team consists of five people. Out of these five team members, two people are introverts. This kind of personality doesn’t communicate too much in general. The other three members are extroverts and two of them like to make cruel pranks on others. In such a social constellation, the introverts will feel intimidated and the third extrovert will feel like an outsider.

Even introvert people can open up in a friendly and collaborative communication environment. When you have five team members who encourage one another, it’s easier to organize the entire team. It ensures a smooth flow of information, instructions, and tasks around the team.

As explained by this research conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, companies that ensure life-giving workplace connections can expect steady growth and development. As opposed to them, workers in companies with non-existing or toxic connections will have life-depleting experiences. This will eventually lead to constant anxiety, demotivation, and a lack of commitment to the company. For this reason, positive social relationships in the workplace become crucial for flawless work organization.

More Interaction, Higher Integration

This is the age of integration, especially when it comes to workplace conditions. All managers and business owners should pay attention to the specifics of their employees. Also, they need to eliminate any prejudice toward and among them. Intensive workplace social interactions in the office is a great way to meet that goal. For instance, if managers and team leaders encourage socially integrative activities, workers from these special groups will appreciate their effort.

The result of this strategy should yield two major benefits. On the one hand, new workers will need less time to get used to the practices of the company. This will be beneficial for all sorts of novice employees. On the other hand, they will develop a stronger sense of devotion to this company, its employees, and its vision. A comprehensive study undertaken by the UN’s Development Fund for Women demonstrated equality in the workplace yield positive results for all the interested parties. Encouraging all your employees to participate in social activities is the major step toward building a company based on the equality of all its workers.

Enhanced Productivity

In the previous segment, we’ve pointed out that higher social interaction yields stronger interaction within the company. Now let’s see how intensive integration influences productivity. For starters, it’s enough to use your common sense. If you’re a manager or business owner who keeps creating supportive and amusing work activities, your employees will be happier to make their contributions. In other words, if your employees are looking forward to every day at work, they’ll give you more of their energy and knowledge.

What’s also important here is to include your employees in the decision-making process. From brainstorming sessions to regular briefings and weekly meetups, managers and team leaders should activate the trust of brains under their jurisdiction. As a current master’s degree in service design points out, it is tremendously important to enabling different players to actively partake in shaping new practices and narratives about the core values, both inside and outside an organization.

Since this is the era of services and digital technology, business people need to grasp the moment and workplace social interactions, creative processes, and information technology. Those entrepreneurs who take the best of each of these three worlds will get ahead of the curve.

It is true to say that we live in the age of rapid technological advancements, but CEOs, managers and team leaders shouldn’t underestimate the power of social interactions. Those that encourage intensive socialization and integration of their employees will be the business frontrunners of this globalized economy. What’s more, by ensuring a smooth and meaningful social environment, they’ll keep their employees loyal to them. For all these reasons, keep creating inspiring social activities and adding them to your company agenda.

Author bio: Jennifer Hahn Masterson is a senior business strategist, holding an MA degree in business communication. She is always doing her best to help her clients find their place in the ever so competitive business arena, insisting on long-term sustainability rather than on some questionable get-rich-fast scheme. You can check her out on LinkedIn.