Connection in a divided world
- sarah270912
- Oct 28
- 3 min read
On 11th September, I headed to Ideas Fest, an informal event for entrepreneurs and those that might call themselves disruptors, creatives, change-makers, decision-makers... or just plain curious!
Though corporate in nature, the event was themed as an outdoor festival (think our own, very small, Glastonbury!) – a trend I’m seeing more business events follow to improve accessibility and inclusivity.
It was a varied, thought-provoking day, but there’s one topic I’ve found myself returning to time and time again: connection.
Living in a divided world
It's hard to ignore the growing sense of disconnect in society today. We’re treading a divided world, one where it’s often easier to focus on our differences than to listen, learn and understand others.
From the rise of digitisation (ironically meant to connect us), to ideological differences, economic challenges and a myriad of other external factors, it can feel like more is pulling us apart than bringing us together.
In response, people may seek out quick, potentially harmful methods of connection or inadvertently resort to ‘othering’ – viewing others as fundamentally different to themselves, and using those differences or perceived notions of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ to distinguish who they wish to associate with.
It’s particularly worrying when research into human happiness strongly suggests that healthy, close relationships are the key to living longer – that they, quite literally, fuel us and our creativity.
So, in a world growing ever more fragmented, the real question is surely: how do we foster connection today?
At Ideas Fest, I attended a busy session focused on this very concept. Seeing the large crowd gather, I thought we all simply wanted to become a ‘better’ person amidst the chaos, but in hindsight, I think people were seeking guidance on how to maintain connections and relationships in this increasingly isolated world.
The quest for connection
Connection isn’t a new concept. And it’s more than a basic need; in fact, it’s rooted in us biologically and some studies even suggest it’s tied to our survival.
Events like Ideas Fest, or even much smaller community groups and social events, allow people to connect. At their core, that’s why they exist – it’s why Ideas Fest thought outside of the box and saw me listening to a keynote speech in a tent. Because to feel part of a community is to have a sense of belonging, which is crucial for our mental and emotional wellbeing.
And yet, when we socialise and connect with others today, we inevitably encounter a range of differences which can lead to tension as opposed to unity.
But maybe the goal isn’t to avoid or smooth over those differences. Maybe it’s to simply approach each other as equals, not ‘others’ – with openness instead of assumption. With no predetermined bias, we can contribute to and learn from connections which should also make them far more rewarding.
Connecting and belonging at work
So, now the question business leaders must ask is: how can we encourage connection in the workplace? Connection should be a given here, but it often isn’t.
We all know that psychological safety should be an absolute guarantee for employees, and really, it’s the precursor to a sense of belonging. But workplaces face the same forces of bias, fear and disconnect, and while managers can encourage employees to bring their whole selves to work despite this, it can be tricky to achieve.
Leaders need to create environments where people don’t just function, but truly belong. A place where employees genuinely feel free, safe and excited to connect with others as equals. Harvard Business Review found that when employees feel a sense of belonging at work, they are 56% more likely to be high performers and 50% less likely to leave – so really, human connection isn’t just good for people, it’s good for business success too.
There are countless theories – old and new – for how to do this in a work setting, but perhaps what today’s divided world demands here is simpler: to strip things back and refocus teams on the joy (and human need!) of connection.
After all, connection starts with curiosity. And it's this simple desire to truly see one another that ultimately allows our humanness to bring us together – even against the odds.
Perplexity
While I'm speaking of this new, ever-changing world, I’ve been exploring a new AI tool called Perplexity. It’s much like ChatGPT, but it also directs you to some great sources.
Here’s some articles I stumbled upon when writing this piece – you might find some nice food for thought:
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