Designing workplaces for human connectivity with Peter Mandeno

Peter Mandeno is an expert in the science of human connection. His work goes beyond simply explaining why connections matter to show organisations how to improve connectivity outcomes by design – for employee engagement, wellbeing, creativity and performance.

As many countries in the Global North grapple with societal loneliness epidemics, in tandem organisations are encountering rising social friction at work. Yet strong bonds with work colleagues underpin successful collaboration, innovation and long-term business sustainability.

In this episode, Jen, Cat and Dom discuss what Peter discovered during his PhD research and why human connection is so invaluable. They also explore what organisations can do to improve engagement and wellbeing at work.

Takeaways

• Organisations need to create the conditions for authentic and meaningful connections to happen naturally in the workplace.
• Emotional, transactional, and intellectual connections are all valuable and contribute to engagement, well-being, and innovation.
• Internal communicators can promote better connectivity by focusing on content, channel, and context.
• Human connection should be seen as a strategic objective and given the necessary time, resources, and attention.

About Peter Mandeno

Peter Mandeno is an expert in the science of human connection. His work goes beyond simply explaining why connections matter to show organisations how to improve connectivity outcomes by design – for employee engagement, wellbeing, creativity and performance.

A native of New Zealand, Peter earned his PhD in Design Engineering from Imperial College London. His research built on two decades of global industry experience in communication, strategy and design. Peter has worked with organisations ranging from ABN AMRO and GSK to KPMG and Vodafone, helping them communicate more effectively and designing experiences that get diverse and distributed teams connecting more authentically.

Peter’s approach is practical, applicable and accessible. In addition to delivering inspirational keynotes and teaching masterclasses to teams of all sizes, Peter advises and consults globally on a range of human connectivity challenges from employee engagement and hybrid work strategies to talent retention and client relationships. Peter’s book – ‘Better Connected’ – is due to launch in 2025.

Find Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermandeno

Peter’s website: https://betterconnected.world

HBR article: https://hbr.org/2013/01/facilitating-serendipity-with-peel-and-eat-shrimp