In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General—Dr. Vivek Murthy—issued a report stating that 50% of American Adults are lonely.
On its face, that seems bad, but when you look a little deeper, it is worse:
- According to the Surgeon General’s report, social isolation increases the risk of premature death by 29 percent. It’s equivalent to the impact of smoking 15 cigarettes per day.
- Loneliness increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia, as well as other serious medical conditions.
- It’s also associated with lower academic performance and decreased productivity at work.
- When it comes to older adults, social isolation accounts for an extra $6.7 billion in Medicare spending each year. (America’s Loneliness Epidemic)
- Ben Sasse, the Harvard-trained historian who became a U.S. Senator from Nebraska, argues in his 2018 book, “Them: Why We Hate Each Other–and How to Heal,” that loneliness is the root of conflicted polarized politics in the United States. (The Life We’re Looking For, Andy Crouch)
Statistics are one thing, but reality is another.
These statistics mean that 1 out of 2 people you see on the road or at the store is lonely, and more relevant, 1 out of 2 of your co-workers is lonely.
Throughout this series, we have been exploring how to retain our best people, and while this may seem a little esoteric, one of the best ways to keep great people is to address the problem of loneliness in your workplace.
Here are some simple ways to do this:
1. Think People, then Projects
When you start your next meeting, start with people, not projects.
Yesterday, we did an all-day training. Our coach encouraged us to start every meeting with five minutes, where everyone in the meeting shares two pieces of good news: One personal and one professional/company.
These five minutes help you remember that we have people in the room, not production units.
2. Ask Questions
Questions are an introvert’s superpower.
How do I know? I’m an introvert that people often mistake for a people person.
How did that happen? Early in my previous career, I learned that if I asked people questions, they would talk, and all I had to do was listen. Remarkably, through me asking questions and listening to them, they felt better and solved their problems on their own.
In a world that is constantly shouting at each other, especially on social media, the power of heartfelt listening connects us.
3. Remember
As I type this, I have a meeting coming up with a team member. Last week, they had a tough week on the health front. Since my title reads Chief Operating Officer, I like to get things done, and unless I check myself, I will jump right into my agenda instead of asking about the situation.
Pro tip: If you need to remember details like this, write them on your calendar for your next meeting. As I age, I write more and more down.
One final thought: This all starts with an internal motivation to care for people you work with. If people sense that you are doing this because it is a TO-DO list item, it will make them feel more lonely and expedite their search for a new job.
So, the first step is to ask yourself a challenging question: do I care about what is best for my co-workers?