We know that one in five employees globally is experiencing loneliness at work. We see it in our sessions—the hesitant voices in breakout rooms, the careful silence when we ask for volunteers, the way people disappear the moment the virtual session ends.

And here's what's striking: We're the ones who gather people. We create the rooms (physical and virtual) where colleagues actually interact. That puts us in a unique position—not to solve this crisis alone, but to be part of the solution.

Photo by Kamil Kalkan on Unsplash

What We're Wrestling With

There's pressure to "get through the content," to justify every minute of training time with measurable outcomes. Social connection can feel like a luxury we can't afford—nice to have, but not essential.

But what if we have it backwards? What if connection isn't fluff that takes time away from learning—it's the foundation that makes learning possible?

One Technique Worth Exploring Together

We've been experimenting with something we're calling Connection Before Content. It's not groundbreaking. You might already be doing some version of this. But we'd love to share what we've learned and hear what's working for you.

This isn't a standard icebreaker. (We've all suffered through those "fun fact" rounds that make introverts want to exit the Zoom.) It's a deliberate bridge between people's lived experience and the topic you're about to teach.

Here's How It Works

The Setup:

• Divide people into groups of three (not pairs, not four—there's something about three that gets everyone talking)
• Ask a question that connects their real life to your training topic
• • If you're teaching project management: "What's one project—work or personal—that you were genuinely excited about?"
  • If you're covering feedback skills: "Tell me about a time someone gave you feedback that actually changed how you work."

The Reflection:

• Bring everyone back together
• Ask one simple question: "What struck you about those conversations?"
• Let the shared themes emerge naturally

For Virtual Sessions:

• Use breakout rooms, still in threes
• Post the question in chat AND broadcast it to breakout rooms (we learned this the hard way)
• Have people share reflections in chat or on a virtual whiteboard so everyone can see the patterns

Why We Think This Matters

When people feel safe enough to share something real before you dive into content, something shifts. They're not just attending training, they're showing up as whole people. And that psychological safety doesn't evaporate when the session ends. It ripples outward.

But here's the thing: We know a blog post isn't enough. Just like an email isn't enough to train someone on a new skill, reading about connection isn't the same as practicing it.

Let's Practice This Together

We're gathering on November 19 to go deeper into this conversation. We'll be discussing practical methods to address workplace loneliness through enhanced connection—and yes, we're going to start with this triad activity so you can experience it firsthand and decide if it's worth adapting for your context.

This won't be a presentation where facilitator Steven van Cohen tells you what to do. It's a working session where you will:

• Discover why communication is not connection

• Explain how pro-social behaviors foster connection and a culture of belonging

• Apply connection-focused strategies to enhance engagement and retention within your own learning programs.

Learn more about "Fully Connected"

Because here's what we believe: L&D professionals aren't just information couriers. We're connection architects. And none of us has to figure this out alone.