Workplace malaise takes on a number of guises in the workplace – from distress and mismanagement to fear, exclusion, loneliness and social isolation. How have we so utterly lost our way? And how can we, as leaders, enable caring communities in our teams to underpin a supportive work culture where people feel they belong?

As social beings, searching for connection and belonging, we need to find a way back to living and working communally – with and for each other.

A less well-known or appreciated concept, ‘survival of the kindest’, was first coined by the American professor of psychology, Dacher Keltner. Keltner argued that learning how to be kind and to cooperate, rather than compete, was critical for our ancestors. It led them to better survival odds compared with those who struggled in conflict and isolation.

The demise of the close-knit community

Until about 200 years ago, we lived in close-knit communities and in harmony with nature. With the arrival of the industrial revolution our western lifestyle has progressively become individualistic. Today, we’re more focused on getting our own needs and wants met than caring, living and working together in communities.

Yet research shows that being part of caring communities is essential to meeting our fundamental individual needs.  The Harvard Happiness Study – the longest-running study on human happiness and wellbeing – aimed to identify the main factors that contribute to a fulfilling and happy life.

Harvard’s study found that people who are more socially connected to family, friends and colleagues are happier, physically healthier, and live longer than those who are less connected. And most importantly, the study shows that the quality of these relationships – not wealth, fame, or social status – has the greatest impact on our physical and mental health.

What is a community?

A community is a group of people brought together through common characteristics, values or interests.

In workplaces, we can think of the organisation as a whole as a community – a group of staff working together to contribute to the mission and vision of the organisation. And the group of staff is often organised in teams working together to achieve shared objectives to fulfil the overall purpose of the organisation.

The health and happiness of teams – their sense of community, connection and collaboration – determines the health and success of the organisation.

But, as mentioned above, it’s not enough to collaborate towards shared objectives. It’s the quality of the relationships, how we see and treat each other, that lies at the heart of a healthy and positive work culture. It’s the very thing that creates community – a sense of ‘we are in it together’.

Where leadership comes into the caring community

Leaders determine work culture. They set the tone for how we act around the workplace and our attitudes to colleagues, ultimately impacting how we feel at work.

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