The Superpower of Human Connection and the Perils of Isolation

The UCLA neuroscientist Matthew Lieberman calls human connection a superpower that makes people smarter, happier, and more productive. It’s also a superpower for organizations, because greater human connection in an organization’s culture boosts employee engagement, tightens strategic alignment, improves the quality of decisions, and increases innovation. Research has also found that people with greater human connections were associated with a 50 percent reduction in the risk of early death. The opposite of human connection is loneliness and social isolation, which research has found is on par with a risk of early death from smoking 15 cigarettes a day and more lethal than obesity. Loneliness can cause employees to feel exhausted and burned out, decreasing productivity and overall morale. A national research report in May showed nearly half of Americans feel lonely, and two in five Americans feel they are isolated from others. America is experiencing an epidemic of loneliness. In this webcast, you will learn: - why human connection is a superpower for individuals and organizations - why loneliness and social isolation combined with stress have a devastating effect on the health of individuals and organizations - how connection converts toxic stress into challenge stress that improves performance - how to create a culture of connection in your workplace, home, and community - actions you can take to boost connections in your life that will help you thrive at work and outside of work.