We're more digitally connected than ever before, yet so many of us still feel lonely. What happens when we feel isolated even when we’re not alone? These feelings don’t just disappear when we head to the office. So, what can we do about loneliness at work?

That's the trillion-dollar question discussed during a recent SXSW “Working to Solve our Loneliness Epidemic” session. Led by JLL's Christian Beaudoin, Global Head of Marketing, and organizational psychologist Dr. Constance Noonan Hadley, this fireside chat wasn't a corporate kumbaya – it was a wake-up call for business leaders stuck in a “traditional” workplace mentality when our ways of working have shifted dramatically, and for anyone who feels lonely at work.

So, what's a forward-thinking company to do? It's time to get strategic about social connection. This isn't about mandatory fun (we're looking at you, awkward office happy hours). It's about creating what Hadley calls “social infrastructure” – incorporating connection into the process of how work gets done.

“The frequency of connection is much more important than the volume of it,” she noted. “The bottom line of a social infrastructure strategy is that it matters a lot less what those opportunities are. You don’t need to overcomplicate it...What matters is that it is a regular routine, part of the way that work gets done.” The key is to show that each employee matters to the team, to the firm and to the work that gets done. Companies need to be creative and flexible in their approach to workplace and people strategy.

Dr. Hadley urged companies to start measuring employee satisfaction (including loneliness) and its impact on productivity metrics. “We all know data drives decisions, so start calculating what's going on in your organization,” she said. For employees from security guard to CEO, she advised you intentionally and genuinely connect with colleagues and try new things to grow your network.

As we navigate the future of work, addressing loneliness isn't just humanitarian – it's a business imperative. This SXSW session made it clear: companies that crack the code on meaningful workplace connection won't just have happier employees; they'll have a serious competitive edge.

Wish you had been at SXSW to see this fireside chat? You don’t have to miss out: a full video recording of this SXSW session is available below. Trust us, it's worth every minute – your team (and your bottom line) will thank you.