At the hub of any company or nonprofit organization are the people. It doesn’t matter if there are two employees or 1,500. The people make it happen. The people turn the wheel, interact with the clientele and drive growth and ingenuity. 

The fastest way to a mucky, slow-running, low-performing system is through a disconnection of the people from the personality and purpose of the organization. After all, people seek understanding and importance behind their work. When an emotional connection is made, greater innovation and value emerge. This connectivity is the foundation to a flourishing workplace culture—and to a workforce that is engaged and energized about the work they are producing.

The beginning of a new year is a prime time to review your organization’s connectivity. Once you empower people with the comfort and ability to interact with one another, and the organizational purpose is clear, it’s like a spark to fire. Here are a few quick tips to ignite internal connectivity at your workplace:

People to People

1. Develop team-building activities. If you have multiple departments, form cross-department teams to encourage collaboration among various areas of work.
2. Start a monthly internal newsletter that highlights the successes of the team and the individuals in your organization. The newsletter can also feature your team members’ activities outside work, such as their volunteer efforts or their hobbies.

3.  Create workspace options that allow for collaboration.

4.  Encourage interaction, teamwork and goal-setting among employees and departments.

5.  Establish “community time,” such as before- or after-hour get-togethers. It can be fun to have special “dress up” or “dress down” days, too.

People to Purpose

1. Make sure individuals are doing work that intrinsically motivates them.
2. Inject a sense of community – built by the people and valued for that reason.
3. Share and embrace the organization’s mission, purpose, values, goals and personality.
4. Communicate individual purpose in regard to the strategic plan and how each person brings value to overall growth.

People perform at higher levels when they feel internally connected and have an emotional stake in the outcome. Further, a sense of belonging inspires people to reach and dream for the organization’s growth and success.

While this approach might seem a bit on the warm and fuzzy side of business, the benefits are far-reaching. If you have an interest in increased production, high-level collaboration, skilled problem-solving and a positively energized environment overall, then take this very seriously. “People and Purpose” should be a line item on both your operations and marketing strategies.

From a marketing standpoint, your inside voice—how your people talk to each other about the company—is often your biggest voice. If you have high-powered internal connectivity, I can promise you that “inside voice” will amplify to the outside marketplace.