The U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy last week issued a warning about toxic workplaces: they are bad for your health.

Toxic workplaces are disrespectful, non-inclusive, unethical, cutthroat or abusive.

Toxicity at work is destructive because it undermines our connection to one another.

Our membership in a herd is so advantageous to our survival that the benefits of connection are baked into our physiology and when we treat each other badly, the consequences for our physical and emotional health are dire.

The research linking well-being and social connection is substantial:

• • Lack of social connection is a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure.

• • Strong social connection leads increases longevity, strengthens your immune system, helps you recover from disease faster and possibly even lengthens your life.

• • People who feel connected have higher self-esteem, greater empathy for others, are more trusting and cooperative and, as a consequence, others are more open to trusting and cooperating with them. All important in a cohesive work culture.

Toxicity at work is a crisis of connection.

Toxic dynamics drive us apart, make us feel like we don’t belong and undermine our feeling of having value to the group we are a part of – where we work.

Dismantling a toxic culture and building a connected culture with a high degree of psychological safety is hard work.

… I heard bestselling author and vulnerability researcher Brene Brown say on a recent podcast that as a leader she has worked as hard on relationships with her team as she has on her relationships with her husband and children. I echo this sentiment….

What makes it challenging is the emotional intelligence and resilience it takes to build a connected culture. These are skills that are hard to hire for and even harder to develop in those who don’t have them.

The surgeon general recommends five “essentials” for workplaces to ensure employee mental health and well-being:

1. Protection from harm

2. Connection and community

3. Work-life harmony

4. Mattering at work

5. Opportunity for growth.

These are all things that make us feel like we belong, recognize our value to the group and make us feel cared about as people. They are included in my behaviors to build a culture of belonging and inclusion.

Organizations need to identify in concrete terms the behaviors that create a respectful, connected culture and those that undermine it. There should be skills development for leaders and expectations around execution with consequences for displaying behaviors that perpetuate a toxic culture.

Transformation will occur as behavior shapes a new culture where people can thrive. Ultimately the work will benefit.

If this post got you thinking, share it with someone else. nnnIf you want to know more about how you can build a connected culture ,reach out to me! nnnIf you want more insight and ideas like this, subscribe to my email.