The Workplace Is Changing. Our Need for Human Connection Isn't.

Why creating opportunities for employees to gather may matter more now than ever.

The workplace looks very different than it did even a few years ago. We work remotely. We work hybrid schedules. We communicate through apps, texts, emails and video calls. Technology continues to make us faster and more efficient, and AI is quickly becoming part of how many of us work every day. Some of these changes are exciting. Some are challenging. And many are simply the reality of moving forward. But in the middle of all this change, I think there is something businesses need to be careful not to lose:

The human part of work.

Because no matter how sophisticated our technology becomes, people still want many of the same things they always have.

They want to feel valued.

They want to feel seen.

They want to feel heard.

They want to know their contribution matters.

And they want to feel connected to the people around them.

That's where I believe gathering has a much bigger role in the workplace than we sometimes give it credit for.

Workplace Gatherings Don't Need to Be Grand Gestures

I think this is where businesses sometimes get stuck. We hear "employee event" and immediately think about budgets, venues, catering, entertainment, decorations and logistics. And yes, there is absolutely a place for larger celebrations.

But a meaningful gathering doesn't automatically mean elaborate gathering. It doesn't have to be extravagant to be thoughtful. It doesn't have to take an entire day to be meaningful. And it certainly doesn't have to look like something created for social media.

The question shouldn't always be:

How much can we do?

Sometimes the better question is:

How do we want people to feel?

Welcomed?

Celebrated?

Relaxed?

Connected?

Appreciated?

Heard?

Start there.

Because when you know how you want people to feel, the gathering itself becomes much easier to create.

The Workplace Will Keep Changing

Five years from now, we'll probably be working differently than we are today. There will be new technology. New tools. New expectations. New ways to communicate. New definitions of where and how work happens. We should embrace the changes that make work better. But we should also be intentional about protecting the things technology can't replace.

Sitting across the table from someone.

Looking them in the eye.

Sharing food.

Laughing together.

Listening to a story.

Celebrating a milestone.

Welcoming someone new.

Thanking someone who has been there for years.

Creating a memory that has absolutely nothing to do with a deadline.

Those things might sound small. I don't think they are!