Speech pathologists: Do you talk all day, but still feel lonely at work?
The big picture:
Loneliness at work is still far too common in our profession; and the evidence suggests it’s not because of remote work arrangements, a lack of teamwork, personal “neediness”, or our personalities!
Why it matters:
Work loneliness increases risks for:
- you: e.g., health problems (including psychosocial health) and professional burn out; and
- your employer: e.g., higher absenteeism and turnover rates; and
- your team: e.g. lower morale, competing fiefdoms, toxic work-culture; and
- your clients: e.g., lower overall service quality and service disruptions.
Zoom in:
Some of the economic, demographic and technological factors contributing to loneliness can’t be controlled by employers. But employers (and colleagues!) can make a big difference with a few simple and low cost initiatives, such as:
- talking about loneliness openly in team meetings;
- measuring and tracking team loneliness, e.g. with simple anonymous surveys;
- making time at work for informal social interactions throughout the day (i.e. not over-booking everyone);
- peer buddy systems (outside of formal supervision hierarchies);
- proper supervision;
- managers rewarding peer support and kindness (and discouraging gossip and cliques);
- eliminating KPIs that stoke competition between team members for resources;
- creating low-pressure opportunities to socialise informally at work, e.g., free communal lunches, and little celebrations for birthdays and other life events;
- dedicating a few minutes at the end of regular work meetings to chitchat or play a game; and
- occasionally hosting celebratory dinners and offsites.
Yes, but:
- some lonely SLPs hold back when social opportunities are presented;
- some SLPs (like me!) hate being steamrolled into “forced fun” activities (e.g. dress up days, etc.);
- some SLPs have cultural, religious or other beliefs and preferences that may affect participation in some types of events; and
- other SLPs have commitments outside of work that must take priority (e.g. family obligations or second jobs).
Bottom line:
Start small by talking about loneliness in meetings and committing to reduce it. Build informal social opportunities into existing workflows. Schedule social events during work hours. Keep events low stakes and optional but explicitly invite everyone to everything, and be persistent and welcoming! If you think someone is struggling with loneliness, reach out and help.
Look out:
Banter Booster Premium #2 will feature a practical guide to make your workplace less lonely (24 March).
Go deeper:
Read more:
Speech pathologists: do you hate networking? Me too. But let’s do it anyway | Speechies in Business
Psychosocial hazards | Safe Work Australia
