The modern office is a living social system, yet most fail to cultivate real connections. Over a third of employees would rather clean a toilet than ask a coworker for help - "social muscle atrophy" from remote work and impersonal tools.

The result? Quiet quitting, disengagement, and a sense that work is just individual tasks, not shared endeavors. But the problem lies in the environments we've created, not the employees. Historically, the office was a public square to learn collaboration. Today, most prefer isolation or superficial relationships - traditional team-building won't cut it.

Successful leaders take a more deliberate approach. They regularly practice social interactions, encourage dialogue, and weave relationship-building into daily work. By mapping silos, building bridges, and pairing disengaged with engaged mentors, they reshape workplaces into vibrant ecosystems where people feel empowered to collaborate.

The preference for isolation isn't because people don't want to connect - it's because the environments we've built make it difficult. As a leader, transform your workplace into a space that fosters the human connections essential for innovation and success.