The connection paradox: Why are workplaces more isolating than ever? | Dan Schawbel | Big Think

A third of the global workforce works remote, yet two-thirds of them are disengaged in their job. I worked remote for over eight years, and while I get the freedom and flexibility to work when, where, and how I want, there's a dark side to working remote that does not get talked about in our culture, which is isolation. This leads to loneliness and unhappiness because you're not getting the same human contact you would be if you're in a physical office space.

And so, if you work remote, you're much less likely to want a long-term career in your company, is what we found. That's because you're not having the human interactions that are required to build strong relationships, which lead to not only better business results but more longevity within a company. Even if you work in a physical office, you could feel like a remote worker too. So many of us eat lunch at our desks in isolation.

New research found that if you're in an open office space, you're actually less social. The promise of technology was to connect us all in a meaningful way. Yet, what has really happened is it's become more isolating because we're using the technology instead of having face-to-face conversations. Instead of meeting with someone in the office face-to-face or picking up the phone, we look down at our screens. We tap our phones 2,600 times a day. We look at our phones every 12 minutes, and even in meetings, we're sending five texts.

Up to half of a worker's day is spent using technology over face-to-face. The biggest culprit is email. We're constantly sending and receiving emails, and that's led to a lot of misunderstanding. One face-to-face interaction is more successful than 34 emails exchanged back and forth. So, instead of hoping that someone understands you, all you have to do is walk a few steps or pick up the phone and explain what you mean. By creating a deeper understanding, you build on that relationship, and you become more effective in doing your projects.

So, we need a delicate balance of alone time and time with other people in order to be fully productive and happy and fulfilled in our job.