Why Connection at Work Matters More Than Productivity (And How to Rebuild It)

Most companies obsess over productivity.

Faster meetings.

More efficient tools.

Fewer interruptions.

But in the race for efficiency, something critical disappeared from the workplace:

Human connection.

On a recent episode of Work Unscripted, connection expert Cassandra Thompson explained why workplaces that prioritize productivity over relationships are quietly eroding employee engagement and what leaders and employees can do to fix it.

The solution isn’t another productivity hack.

It’s bringing connection back into work.

The Hidden Cost of Hyper-Efficiency at Work

Over the past decade, workplaces have removed nearly every moment of “friction.”

Think about it:

• Meetings moved online

• Messages moved to Slack

• Ordering lunch became mobile

• Collaboration shifted to asynchronous tools

All of these innovations were designed to make work faster. But according to Thompson, efficiency also removed the small human moments that build relationships.

Those moments used to happen naturally:

• Walking to a conference room with someone

• Waiting for a meeting to start and chatting with those in the room

• Passing coworkers in the hallway and stopping for a brief moment

• Chatting while grabbing coffee

Today, many of those moments are gone. And with them, opportunities for connection disappeared too.

Why Connection at Work Actually Drives Performance

The irony is that connection, often dismissed as “soft,” is actually one of the strongest predictors of workplace success. Research consistently shows that employees who feel connected at work:

• Are more engaged

• Stay longer with their employer

• Experience higher job satisfaction

• Contribute more creatively

One well-known Gallup finding illustrates this clearly: Employees who have a friend at work are significantly more likely to be engaged and stay with their company. That single relationship can transform someone’s experience at work.

Think about your own career. 

Did you enjoy the jobs where you felt completely isolated?

Or the ones where someone invited you to lunch, included you in conversations, or simply asked how you were doing?

Connection changes everything.

The Problem: Our “Social Muscles” Are Weakening

There’s another challenge emerging: many people have lost practice connecting with others.

Technology has made it easy to avoid interaction entirely:

• Mobile ordering instead of speaking to a cashier

• Self-checkout instead of talking to a clerk

• Messaging instead of calling

• Emails instead of conversations

Over time, those habits weaken what Thompson calls our “social muscles.” When we don’t regularly interact with strangers or acquaintances, even small conversations begin to feel awkward. And when social interaction feels difficult, people withdraw further, creating a cycle of disconnection.

The Simple Habit That Rebuilds Connection

The good news? Rebuilding connection doesn’t require big changes. It starts with micro-conversations. These are small, everyday interactions that remind us we’re part of a community.

Examples include:

• Asking the barista, “How’s your day going?”

• Complimenting someone’s shoes in an elevator

• Chatting briefly with a coworker before a meeting

• Saying hello to someone in line at the grocery store

These interactions may seem insignificant. But they help restore our comfort with human connection.

Over time, they make deeper conversations and workplace relationships much easier.

Small Talk Isn’t the Enemy

One of the biggest misconceptions about connection is that small talk is pointless. Many professionals say they prefer deep conversations and dislike surface-level interaction. But Thompson reframes it differently. Small talk isn’t the goal.

Small talk is the doorway.

It’s how we move from strangers to deeper relationships. You don’t start a conversation with: “Tell me about your biggest challenge this quarter.”

You start with:

• Where someone works

• How they heard about the event

• What they did that weekend

These simple exchanges build trust, and trust is what allows deeper conversations to happen later.

The Most Underrated Skill in Networking

Another insight from the conversation: connection isn’t about transactions. Many people treat networking like a value exchange.

They focus on:

• What they can give

• What they can ask for

• What someone else can do for them

But that mindset often makes networking feel forced. Instead, Thompson suggests a different framework:

10% asking

20% giving

70% keeping in touch

The majority of relationships aren’t about requests or favors. They’re simply about staying connected.

Examples include:

• Sending a birthday message

• Sharing an article someone might enjoy

• Checking in to see how someone is doing

• Scheduling a casual catch-up conversation

In other words:

The strongest professional relationships look a lot like friendships.

A Daily Habit That Keeps Relationships Alive

One of Thompson’s favorite practices is scheduling what she calls “peopling time.”

This is a short block, sometimes just 10–15 minutes, dedicated to reconnecting with people.

During that time, you might:

• Reply to messages you’ve been meaning to answer

• Send birthday wishes

• Check in with an old colleague

• Comment on a connection’s post

• Schedule a catch-up call

It sounds simple. But doing it consistently keeps relationships from fading over time. And those relationships often become the source of:

• opportunities

• ideas

• collaboration

• emotional support

Connection Is the Real Productivity Strategy

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is: Connection is not separate from work. Connection is how work actually works.

When people feel seen and valued:

• collaboration improves

• creativity increases

• communication becomes easier

• stress decreases

In other words, connection fuels performance. Not the other way around.

Listen to the Full Conversation on Work Unscripted

This article only scratches the surface of the discussion with Cassandra Thompson.

In the full episode of Work Unscripted, we also explore:

• Why loneliness is rising in the workplace

• The surprising benefits of “friction” in work culture

• How introverts can build connection without forcing themselves to network

• The easiest way to join a conversation at events

• What to do if you feel disconnected from colleagues

🎧 Listen to the full episode, "Stop Networking. Start Connecting: How to Build Real Relationships at Work" on Work Unscripted.