3 Ways to Better Connect with Your Coworkers | The Way We Work, a TED series

Work relationships are crucial for our success and happiness at work. They provide social support and access to valuable information.

Building trust is essential for effective teamwork and personal well-being. People are more likely to share their best ideas with those they know and trust. Research shows that teams who trust each other perform better because team members feel safe sharing their ideas. To build trust, start by being vulnerable in front of others, which encourages them to be vulnerable as well.

The Power of Being a Joiner Being a joiner can make you and your teams more effective. Our acquaintances, rather than our closest friends, are often the best source of new information as they connect us to different social circles and new ways of thinking. These weak ties are crucial for innovation and high performance.

"Weak Ties" in Innovation "Weak ties", or relationships with people outside our immediate social circle, play a significant role in driving innovation. Research shows that individuals who have many weak ties within an organization tend to have higher performance scores, greater chances of promotion, and increased involvement in creative breakthroughs.

Joining Groups Outside Work To develop weak ties, it is beneficial to join groups outside your day-to-day work such as philanthropic organizations or sports clubs. By doing so,you open yourself up to diverse perspectives and potential opportunities for collaboration.

By making it easier for people to belong, such as through the use of colored T-shirts and group assignments, meaningful connections can be formed. This was demonstrated in an onboarding process redesign at a company where employees wearing different colored T-shirts started bonding and staying connected even after the onboarding week. The experiment worked because it provided an easy way for individuals to identify their group and fostered a sense of belonging.