Finding Social Support

Written By Marilyn Garman

Hey everyone, as we continue with Self-care Summer, let's talk about the importance of social support.

Humans are communal beings. We need each other to have enriching, meaningful lives, and the data backs this position up. Research shows that a solid support system can positively impact our well-being. Concerning our work-life quality, one study showed that social support "has a positive, moderately strong correlation with employee job satisfaction and a weak negative correlation with bullying at work" (Sigursteinsdottir & Karlsdottir, 2022). The researchers examined just shy of 5000 employees in Iceland, and the data pointed to social support being a significant factor in employee job satisfaction.

Whether it's friends, family, or a community group, having people to lean on can make a big difference in our lives. This is why a sense of community plays a role in mitigating burnout in organizations.

Building a community is more straightforward than one may think; small steps can contribute to the organizational community. According to an article in WebMD, here are some ways leaders can start building a sense of social support and community:

  • Volunteering together

  • Create a "5-minute catch-up rule."

  • Create physical places to connect

  • Use storytelling

  • Create and support employee resource groups

  • Get Digital

  • Offer fun after-hours events

  • Establish mentor or peer-coaching programs

  • Hone your onboarding experience

  • Create rituals

  • Provide regular recognition

  • Celebrate wins

  • Build cross-connections

  • Communicate regularly and often

  • Involve families

Check out these articles to learn more:

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9029627/

  • https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=is_fac

  • https://www.webmdhealthservices.com/blog/how-to-build-a-sense-of-community-in-the-workplace/

Let's keep supporting and uplifting each other!

#SelfCareSummer #SocialSupport #CommunityMatters #WorkLifeQuality #EmployeeWellbeing #BuildingCommunity #TeamBuilding #EmployeeEngagement #SupportSystem #WorkplaceWellness #WellBeingAtWork #UpliftingEachOther

Marilyn Garman https://www.marilyngarman.com
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