Appendix II

Study Questions for Book Groups

Chapter 1

•  Reflect on a time when you were energized by your work. What factors were present that contributed to your energy?

•  Reflect on a time when your work felt draining. What factors were present that contributed to your fatigue?

Chapter 2

•  Describe a time when you truly connected with another person or a group. How did that make you feel?

•  Is your current work environment an example of a culture of control, a culture of indifference, or a connection culture? Why?

•  Which of the seven universal human needs to thrive at work are being met in your workplace? Which are not being sufficiently met?

•  What steps can you take to help meet the seven universal needs for others in your workplace? Commit to taking two actions in the next week to meet others’ needs (for example, affirm a colleague for a job well done).

Chapter 3

•  Share an example of an organization that you believe exhibits a high degree of the connection culture element of vision.

How is this vision communicated?

Has the vision produced a shared identity that people connected with the organization feel proud about?

•  Share an example of an organization that you believe exhibits a high degree of the connection culture element of value.

How do the leaders show that they value employees?

Has value in the organization produced a bond of shared empathy among people in the organization?

•  Share an example of an organization that you believe exhibits a high degree of the connection culture element of voice.

How does the organization encourage employees to provide feedback?

Has voice in the organization resulted in a greater shared understanding?

•  Which of the 24 character strengths do you believe you exhibit? Which do you believe you need to strengthen?

Part I: Profiles in Connection

•  Take a moment to reflect on the stories that you read in this section. Which story did you find most inspiring? Why? Which story challenged you the most? Why?

•  Write down three ideas you learned from the leaders highlighted in this section that you would like to implement in your own organization.

•  The common theme through each of the profiles is a commitment on the part of the leader or organization to vision, value, and voice. How does your organization or team embody each of those elements? Which element needs to be strengthened?

Chapter 4

•  What research presented in this chapter really jumped out at you? How is it relevant to your work and your life outside of work?

•  Research clearly shows that connection is critical for our personal health and well-being. On a scale of one to 10 (with 10 being fully connected), how would you rate your current level of personal connection?

•  Based on what you learned in this chapter about the importance of using connection to manage stress levels, write down two positive actions you can take the next time you feel overwhelmed at work. If you are a supervisor, write down two ways you can use connection to help your direct reports feel less stressed.

Chapter 5

•  What research presented in this chapter really jumped out at you? How is it relevant to your work and your life outside of work?

•  Research clearly shows that connection provides a performance and competitive advantage to organizations. On a scale of one to 10 (with 10 being fully connected), how would you rate your organization’s current level of connection?

•  Organizations often display two or more of the three types of cultures. Which culture describes your team? Which cultures are present throughout the organization? If your team lacks a connection culture, consider contacting a leader in your organization who is an intentional connector and ask for tips on turning your team’s culture around.

Part II: Profiles in Connection

•  Take a moment to reflect on the stories that you read in this section. Which story did you find most inspiring? Why? Which story challenged you the most? Why?

•  Write down three ideas you learned from the leaders highlighted in this section that you would like to implement in your own organization.

•  The common theme through each of the profiles is a commitment on the part of the leader or organization to vision, value, and voice. How does your organization or team embody each of those elements? Which element needs to be strengthened?

Chapter 6

•  An important point made in this chapter is that connection occurs in subgroups, including across departments. Which departments or people are most critical for you to have strong relationships with? What is the current state of those relationships?

•  This chapter gives many practical tips for implementing a connection culture within your organization. Which three actions do you believe are most critical for your team at this point in time?

•  Connection is not just for the workplace. It’s critical in all relationships, including community organizations, religious groups, families, and friends. What actions will you personally take to build connection in groups outside work?

Chapter 7

•  Can you identify specific individuals you’ve known who fall into each of the categories of intentional disconnector, unintentional disconnector, and intentional connector?

•  Of the factors mentioned in “The Changing Workplace and Future of Work” section, which do you expect might have the most relevance to you over the next three years? What other potential issues do you see on the horizon?

•  What are your spheres of influence? What steps can you take to build connection in those local cultures?