Social Relationships At Work Affect Health

Would it surprise you to learn that social relationships at work can affect your health? After an international team of researchers analyzed 58 studies from 15 countries, they concluded that positive workplace relationships are associated with better health and lower burnout.

The report in the journal, “Personality and Social Psychology Review,” says that on average, people spend one third of their day at work.   Therefore, the social groups they become a part of influence their psychological and physiological well-being. These groups provide an important sense of belonging and of community. No matter what the profession, at-work friends can have a greater impact on health than finding the right job fit.

The authors also found that the health benefits of identifying with the workplace are strongest when there are similar levels of identification within the workplace social group.

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Time-Saving Email Hack

In a recent interview on the Radiate podcast, Tom Patterson, founder of Tommy John undershirts, revealed his secret for managing the enormous swell of emails he receives every day.

Patterson set up his email auto-reply to return the following message: “I am currently checking email before 9am and after 5pm EST, so there will be a delayed response. If this is urgent, please call or text.”

This new email practice empowered his staff. His team quickly realized they could make decisions without his involvement. And, Tom was able to be less distracted. He became more present and impactful as he focused his energy on operations and strategy.

Patterson admits it took a while to break his email addiction, but now he routinely and religiously checks his email before 9 and just after 5. Could that work for you?

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Body Language That Wins or Loses You Respect

Body language can win friends or make enemies. Oprah.com contributor Janine Driver offers these do’s and don’ts that can earn you respect, or help you tamp down gestures that give you away.

First, the Don’ts:

• Don’t lose track of your head tilt. The way you cock your head could broadcast that you don’t stand behind what your saying.
• Don’t pull in your lips. Sucking in your lips can indicate that you’re holding something back.
• Finally, don’t wrinkle your nose. It’s a universal sign of disgust that, if misread, can derail your best intentions.

Now, the Do’s:

• Hold your chin. This “thinking pose” signals that you’re conjuring up a solution.
• Do steeple your fingers. Putting fingertips to fingertips increases the perception of authority.
• Cross your arms — but only among friends. Research shows that arm crossing can help you stay focused on difficult tasks.