Lately, have you been finding that dealing with other people at work is often zapping your patience and draining your energy? If you’re nodding your head, you’re not alone. Our studies found that "dealing with others" had become the biggest struggle most workers reported when it came to caring for their well-being at work during the past 12 months.
“The kind of low-quality connections many of us have experienced at work due to the restrictions of the global pandemic is life-depleting. These corrosive connections at work can be difficult and drain the energy from us,” explained Professor Jane Dutton, Ph.D., from the University of Michigan when we interviewed her recently. “However, even a single encounter with another person where you feel seen, feel known, and experience mutual regard for each other can fortify you and be an antidote against loneliness.”
For example, Dutton's research has found that when we experience a high-quality connection at work—an interaction where you get a sense of mutual awareness and being on the same page as the other person—these interactions act like interpersonal vitamins. They light you up; they energize you and give you a sense of positive regard for others.
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