Workplace Connection: What Drives Motivation, Retention, and Performance

Guest: Jason Lauritsen, Workplace strategist, Executive advisor, Keynote speaker, and co-author of the Human Connection Study

Summary

In this episode of At Work in America, Steve Boese speaks with workplace strategist, advisor, and keynote speaker Jason Lauritsen about the Human Connection Study, a large-scale research project examining how connection shapes the employee experience. The study includes responses from more than 286,000 employees across nearly 1,700 organizations, providing a deeper look at what connection is, how employees experience it, and why it matters to organizational success.

Jason explains why workplace connection extends beyond relationships with managers and colleagues. Employees also need to feel that their work matters and that they understand and believe in the purpose and direction of their organization.

The conversation explores the study’s most surprising findings, including why connection to organizational purpose may be even more influential than having strong workplace relationships—and what HR and business leaders can do to create the conditions where connection can flourish.

Topics include:

Why connection should be viewed as a driver of performance rather than simply a cultural benefit
The difference between relational connection and resonance connection
The four primary dimensions of workplace connection
Why organizational purpose and direction have such a powerful influence on employees
How connection affects motivation, retention, inclusion, and advocacy
How managers can create moments where employees feel seen, heard, and understood

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