Why Being ‘Human’ is Vital in the Modern Workplace

It’s all too easy to get caught up in the pursuit of efficiency, productivity, and profit. However, it’s important to remember that at the core of every business are human beings, including your employees, customers, and stakeholders.
This ‘human’ element of the workplace is vital to creating a successful and sustainable business. As we spend a significant portion of our lives at work, it is crucial for employers to create a workplace culture that prioritises being human. By fostering a culture that values humanity, employers will also improve employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention.

The Importance of Empathy and Vulnerability

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. In the workplace, empathy can play a vital role in building strong relationships and creating a human-centered work environment. When employees feel heard and understood, they are more likely to feel valued and respected, which can lead to improved motivation and engagement. Empathy is what allows managers and colleagues to put themselves in their team members’ shoes and understand their perspectives. This leads to better communication, stronger relationships, and a more positive work environment. A recent workplace empathy survey from Business Solver showed that 69% of employees feel their organisation is emphatic, whilst 79% feel their co-workers are empathetic.

Empathetic leaders can also create a more positive and productive work environment. Leaders who can understand and relate to the challenges their employees face are more likely to provide effective support and guidance. Additionally, empathetic leaders can foster a culture of empathy within the workplace, encouraging employees to support and understand each other.

Empathy also plays a crucial role in customer service. Customers want to feel heard and understood, and an empathetic approach can help build trust and loyalty. Furthermore, being empathetic towards customers can also lead to valuable feedback and insights into their needs and wants. When employees feel like they are being heard and understood, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated in their work, leading to better performance, increased job satisfaction, and reduced turnover rates.

Vulnerability is the willingness to be open and honest about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. In the workplace, vulnerability can foster a more authentic and open culture. When employees feel safe to express themselves, it leads to better communication, more creativity, and more effective problem-solving. Vulnerability is also key to building trust in the workplace. When leaders and colleagues are willing to share their own vulnerabilities, it creates a sense of connection and understanding. This can lead to stronger relationships, more effective teamwork, and a more positive environment.

Building Strong Relationships

Strong relationships are built on trust and mutual understanding. In the workplace, building strong relationships with colleagues can lead to improved collaboration and teamwork. When employees feel connected to their colleagues, they are more likely to feel invested in the success of the team and the company as a whole.

Employers can foster strong relationships in the workplace by encouraging open and honest communication, promoting teamwork and collaboration, and creating opportunities for employees to get to know each other outside of work. Activities such as team-building exercises and social events can also help to build strong relationships within the workplace.

Building Human Connections in the Workplace

Creating human connections in the workplace is vital for building a positive and productive work environment. This can be achieved through various methods such as team-building activities, social events, and open communication channels. As many as 54% of employees say a strong sense of community at work helped them stay at a company longer as a result, highlighting the importance of great working relationships.

Creating a sense of community within the workplace can help employees feel more connected to their colleagues and the company. This can lead to better collaboration, increased job satisfaction and employee retention. Encouraging employees to get to know each other on a personal level can also help break down barriers and increase trust and understanding among team members.

In addition to building connections among employees, companies should also strive to build connections with customers. This can be achieved by providing a personalised service and creating a sense of community with customers through social media, events, and customer feedback channels. Building strong relationships with customers can lead to increased customer loyalty and repeat business.

Having the Right Metrics

Measuring performance and progress is important for companies, but it’s crucial to ensure that the metrics used drive the right behaviours. To foster a positive work environment and strong relationships with employees and customers, companies should include metrics that measure employee engagement, customer satisfaction and loyalty, and progress towards company values such as diversity, inclusion, and sustainability. This could include employee and customer satisfaction surveys, Net Promoter Score (NPS) feedback, or employee engagement focus groups.

These metrics provide insight into how well a company is addressing the needs of its employees and customers, as well as making a positive impact on society. By using metrics that drive the right behaviours, companies can not only meet their business objectives but also create a more positive and sustainable work environment.

Being Human Always Works

Being human is vital in the workplace, as it allows employers to create a positive and productive work environment for a successful and sustainable business. By fostering a culture of empathy and building strong relationships, employers can improve employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention. Building human connections is a key factor in fostering a positive work environment. It will also help to build strong relationships with employees and customers. By prioritising the ‘human’ element in the workplace, companies can improve communication, productivity, and ultimately drive success.

If you are wanting to improve the customer experience (CX) for your brand and provide your employees with a positive experience, at Ventrica we can help with trusted BPO services. To learn more, please contact us today.