We’re W.E.I.R.D. … and It’s Keeping Us Disconnected
In Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) cultures, success often is attributed to individual efforts. This drive fuels ambition and fans the flames of the human desire to potentiate, and it quietly undermines the relationships that sustain your work. The result? A lonely workforce, strained teams, and a drifting sense of purpose (see: burnout, turnover, low moral).
The Costs of WEIRD Culture for Teams
Mental Health Toll: The push to “do more with less” has spiked anxiety and burnout. A 2023 Surgeon General report calls loneliness an "epidemic," with nearly 40% of Americans feeling “seriously lonely”—a stat mirrored in mission-driven teams stretched thin by individual pressure.
Physical Strain: Constant stress from chasing outcomes—think late-night revisions or back-to-back meetings—leads to exhaustion, sleep loss, and even health risks rivaling smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Weakened Team Cohesion: When personal hustle trumps collective care, trust erodes. Staff may hesitate to ask for help, silos grow, and the community spirit needed to drive big missions forward fades.
Three Actionable Steps to Build a Relational Culture
You can shift this tide. Here’s how to prioritize connection without sacrificing impact.
Redefine Success as Team Strength
Why: A thriving team delivers more than a lone star ever could.
How: Measure success by collaboration, not just outputs. At your next meeting, ask: “Who did we lift up this week?” or “How did we bridge a gap—between staff, partners, or ideas?” Celebrate a coordinator who rallied their crew or a lead who mentored a struggling teammate.
Action: Start your next one-on-one by asking about their strongest work relationship—and how you can support it.
Build Trust Through Active Reciprocity
Why: Small acts of care compound into resilient teams.
How: Model relational habits: Send a quick “thank you” email to a teammate who stepped up. Offer to proofread a colleague’s work without being asked. Check in on a staff member’s wellbeing after a tough week—“How are you holding up?”
Action: This week, pick one person on your team and do one unprompted, non-transactional act of support.
Create Communal Rituals for Belonging
Why: Shared routines remind your team they’re part of something bigger.
How: Start meetings with a 2-minute check-in: “What’s one small win you want from the today?” Host a monthly no-agenda coffee break—phones off, listening on. Or end the week with a 5-minute group reflection: “What worked? What didn’t? What’s next?”
Action: Schedule one ritual for April—test it, tweak it, and make it stick.
More Practices & Process To Cultivate A Culture Of Belonging
The Takeaway
This WEIRD culture has helped teams achieve big wins, and it’s left us isolated and overstretched. You’re uniquely positioned to weave connection back into your work—bolstering mental health, resilience, and impact. The question isn’t whether to over index relationships over tasks, rather it's how to efficiency with relationships to fuel your purpose.
What’s one small shift you’ll make this week to lead a more connected team?