How to Give Young Employees the Connectedness they Need
There’s a tendency to think that young people are more resilient than their older colleagues – they work long hours without complaint, are less likely to have caring obligations, and are energetic and motivated. And yet, Generation Z – those born after 1994 – are three times more likely than other employees to have sought professional help for stress, burnout or other mental health reasons since the pandemic started.
Dashed expectations
Young people, especially recent graduates, have had their social lives decimated – and their expectations of work life have been completely upturned. As Meghan Stokes notes, “[Younger] individuals also had to deal with the loss of important events, such as graduation, and a way of life, such as the inability to gather with social networks or go to the gym. … They need a higher level of support.”
A difficult situation that has grown worse
Feelings of loneliness and disconnection among young people were already prevalent prior to the pandemic, in part due to individualism and competitive work and educational environments. Now, disconnection is rife for younger employees.
Often, young people are struggling yet are reluctant to show it due to stigma. They might have the sense that everyone else is coping fine, and think, “No one cares”, or “I’m alone in this.”
Finding a simple solution
Many employers and companies are now wondering: how can we ensure that young people feel more connected and engaged at work? How do we prevent isolation, especially among those who are working remotely?
Working on yourself together fosters connection – and more
Our experience is showing that WOOSH5 Coaching Circles are proving extremely effective at fostering this much needed connectedness for young people. Being coached in groups together with others helps people feel less alone, and more supported. Their sense of isolation and disconnection is reduced, as they come to understand that they are struggling with the same issues as others around them. Working on issues together in Coaching Circles is a great way to ensure young people feel engaged and connected at work and beyond.
Advantages of Coaching Circles for individuals
- Builds skills in reflection, listening, reframing, questioning and problem solving
- Deepens trust and collaboration among peers and across departments as people gain a better understanding of the issues, motivations, and intentions of colleagues and stakeholders
- Improves interpersonal support skills such as coaching and offering feedback
- Enhances compassion and adaptability
- Drives individual responsibility for learning and personal development
Advantages of Coaching Circles for organizations
- Increases interpersonal functioning and connectedness
- Develops leadership and management capabilities
- Builds and accelerates the organization’s learning capacity
- Breaks down silo mentality
- Encourages peer consultation and collaboration
Coaching Circles can work for you, too Curious what WOOSH5 Coaching Circles could mean for your organization? Plan a meeting with us to learn more.
