The Human Advantage: Bertelsmann University’s innovative approach to building trusting relationships at work
The need for meaningful relationships at work is clear. But most employees feel they don’t have enough of them.
Gallup reports one in five employees report experiencing loneliness “a lot.” And loneliness, in addition to affecting productivity, is about as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
A team from Bertelsmann University had an idea for a new program that could help.
More good days
In their first meeting, we ask them to remember a good day they had at work. The kind of day you’re eager to talk about when you get home. The kind of day where you feel alive at work.
“Your goal in this program,” we tell them, “is to have more days like that.”
The Festival in the Forest
So we made a kind of pact. “Let’s remember this moment,” we said, “if ever we have a disagreement or difficulty.”
Just knowing it was there was enough.
A very special dinner
The next time you’re having dinner with friends and want to go beyond small talk, consider this exercise. You may discover something extraordinary about your friends—and about yourself.