Technology, Connection, Valuable Currency
November 21st, 2024
NOTICING AND WONDERING
I type from the Lower East Side of New York and I have been here all week for Techonomy 24 and The Kindness Effect Summit. I am speaking on the intersection of psychology, technology, and how to build connection on teams, not only to build stronger teams but to build a kinder society.
I notice a theme - we are in the most transformative time of technology and AI is the prominent topic of conversation in all circles.
At Techonomy, CTO’s, senior military people, and heads of big companies were sharing how they are capitalizing on AI to solve big problems like cybersecurity. At the Kindness Effect Summit, researchers, neuroscientists, and other medical practitioners shared the health impacts of kindness. In the evenings, at dinners with mixed crowds, the conversations focused on how people are using ChatGPT in their everyday - like how to draft emails to save time. All of which are important.
Somewhere after my first glass of wine and dessert, the head of a real estate company (who is not using AI) said, “Your value is not your net worth; it is your network.”
It made me wonder (and is a big takeaway for me this week) - is this truer than ever? In the age of scripted emails and impersonal content, genuine relationships will become the most valuable currency to improve business, health, and all aspects of the human experience.
We can layer on the next technology and develop tools to support us as humans, but regardless of how far we go, we will always remain human and have human needs that require human solutions. Connection and relationships cannot be automated.
A QUOTE TO THINK ABOUT
“Technology is best when it brings people together.”
A DEEP-ish QUESTION (or Three)
How do you balance using technology to enhance efficiency with the need to maintain genuine human connection in your work and life?
What steps can you take to strengthen your "network," not just professionally but as a web of meaningful relationships?
If technology is designed to solve big problems, what role do you think it should play in addressing the "human problems" of loneliness and disconnection?
SOMETHING TO TRY
This week, try practicing "Noticing and Wondering" in your interactions and routines:
Notice: Pay attention to how often technology mediates your interactions (e.g., emails, texts, AI tools). How do you feel about those interactions? Do they feel meaningful or transactional?
Wonder: Ask yourself, "How might I create moments of genuine connection today?" Whether it's a personal touch in an email or making time for a face-to-face conversation, reflect on how you can prioritize connection.
CASE CONSULTATION
Question: How do I balance using technology on my team while keeping my distributed team connected?
Dr. Bobbi: Great question. We hear this all the time from the teams we work with. We have to remember that technology is an enabler of humans, not a replacement for them. Humans are hardwired for connection and social by nature, so technology can help us become more efficient in tasks, but true human connection is irreplaceable and requires time and attention. Work relationships are like any relationship, and they require ongoing cultivation and care.
Use tools for clarity, not connection: Let tech handle logistics so you can focus on building relationships.
Create small rituals: A quick "highlight or lowlight" or a five-minute check-in keeps connection alive.
Professional vulnerability: Share both your successes and your struggles / uncertainties at work. Connection is built through vulnerability (and that does not mean you have to share all your most personal secrets).
No matter how transactional your team is, they crave connection as connection is a fundamental human need.
Thanks for reading and keep on connecting. :)
Best,
Bobbi
Bobbi Wegner, Psy.D.
Founder and CEO of Groops: helping teams feel and function their best
Lecturer at Harvard University in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
ANNOUNCEMENT
We are launching a new Groops for Emerging Leaders for some international partners. That means is will run from 9am-10:30am CET (3am EST). If you are interested, learn more here.
If you are curious about a workplace dynamic or issue, send me an email at drbobbiwegner@joingroops.com and I will anonymously post it and respond. If you are thinking it, others are too. We can learn from each other. Also, if you are curious about the cohesion and health of your team, book a complimentary 30-minute consultation HERE with one of our Groop Guides.