Thanks for signing up to all the new readers! Here are some nuggets about how networks shape your wellbeing, relationships and community to help you actively cultivate yours.
Wellbeing
The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship shines a light on the types of relationships many of us are missing right now. It explores what impact this has on our health, sense of belonging, and even our careers.
The psychological effects of losing all but our closest ties can be profound. Peripheral connections tether us to the world at large; without them, people sink into the compounding sameness of closed networks. Regular interaction with people outside our inner circle “just makes us feel more like part of a community, or part of something bigger,” Gillian Sandstrom, a social psychologist at the University of Essex, told me.
Relationships
Relationships at work have a huge impact on the success of the organisation and the experience of people who work there. The work behind Better People Analytics focuses in on how the shape of the network (relationships in a company) impacts specific business activities such as ideation, influence, innovation, and efficiency.
“People analytics is a new way to make evidence-based decisions that improve organizations. But in these early days, most companies have been focused on the attributes of individuals, rather than on their relationships with other employees. Looking at attributes will take firms only so far. If they harness relational analytics, however, they can estimate the likelihood that an employee, a team, or an entire organization will achieve a performance goal. They can also use algorithms to tailor staff assignments to changes in employee networks or to a particular managerial need. The best firms, of course, will use relational analytics to augment their own decision criteria and build healthier, happier, and more-productive organizations.”
Community
For those of you who have experienced a natural disaster first hand, you know how disorienting it can be. As part of Season 3 of the podcast, which focuses on life events that impact our networks, I speak with a friend who lived through the 2015 Nepal earthquake that destroyed his village. He shares some interesting insights about how people came together to survive in the immediate aftermath of the disaster and connections that were important to thriving over the longer term.
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About The Reliants Project
Reliant is my word for a person that someone depends on, an essential component of our social networks. With each edition, I’ll share useful nuggets about how networks shape your wellbeing, relationships and community to help you actively cultivate yours. Whether you want to cultivate your relationships, make better introductions, or activate networks to make an impact in the world, let me help you reach your goals.
You can find more about The Reliants Project here.