Leaders often mistake activity for progress.
Instead of fixing the system that isolates employees, they throw pizza parties, mandate team-building events, install chat platforms, and then wonder why collaboration still feels forced.
But the truth is that people want to connect. They want to share ideas – it’s in their DNA!
What really stops them?
Well, it’s not the lack of space or time, rather it’s the rigid decision-making structures that exclude, closed business processes that ignore their input, and knowledge-hoarding habits brought on by reward systems that favor individual achievement and outputs.
If the system doesn’t change, social efforts around work are just window dressing.
Want real connection?
Make work transparent. Open up decision-making. Reward collaboration, not just results.
Design work for social connection, and people will naturally engage. No pizza required.
