We are more connected and lonelier than ever. That paradox is shaping not just our personal lives, but our workplaces, our leadership, and our long-term well-being. And if we don’t address it intentionally, loneliness becomes more than a social issue; it becomes a business risk.
Today, welcome back Dr. Tracy Brower, who has spent her career studying exactly this intersection of community, happiness, and the future of work.
Listen in as we unpack the epidemic of loneliness, the ROI of community in the workplace, and how leaders can balance the human need for connection with the flexibility employees have come to expect. Tracy also shares practical ways to create the conditions for belonging and meaningful relationships without manufacturing culture or mandating connection.
Finally, we explore the power of mentorship and social capital, why diversity strengthens our communities when built with intention, and how even introverts benefit from thoughtful connection. This is a conversation about designing work and leadership around what humans actually need to thrive.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title.
Listen in for…
- Why loneliness is so prevalent, despite how digitally connected we now are.
- How work can be part of the solution to the loneliness epidemic.
- Building communities with intention.
- Thoughtful connection, for both introverts and extroverts.
- How to balance the need for human connection and the flexibility of hybrid work environments for leaders.
"You won't be purely happy if everybody's like you; your best happiness and well-being come when your network is about 50/50 - 50% who are more similar to you, 50% who are different from you." — Dr. Tracy Brower
Episode References:
The Empathy Edge podcast:
About Dr. Tracy Brower, PhD: Author, Critical Connections, The Secrets to Happiness at Work, Bring Work to Life
Dr. Tracy Brower is a PhD sociologist studying community, happiness, and the future of work and life. She is a Global 50 Thinker and the award-winning author of three books: Critical Connections, The Secrets to Happiness at Work, and Bring Work to Life. She is the vice president of workplace insights with Steelcase and a senior contributor to Forbes and Fast Company. She is a Top 101 Experience and Engagement Influencer, and her work has been translated into 25 languages, while her TEDx talk has been viewed 8.6 million times.
Connect with Tracy:
Website: tracybrower.com
X: x.com/TracyBrower108
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracybrowerphd
Instagram: instagram.com/tlb108
TikTok: tiktok.com/@tracybrowerauthor
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
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