Episode 119

Connie Noonan Hadley: How to overcome loneliness at work

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What if loneliness at work isn’t a personal weakness but a strategic signal?

That’s the case my guest, Dr Connie Noonan Hadley, makes in this conversation. She’s an organisational psychologist, the founder of the Institute for Life at Work, and one of the world’s leading experts on workplace loneliness and social connection.

We explore why loneliness is on the rise even in busy offices and hybrid teams, and why it’s not about being alone, but about the emotional distress that comes from missing the positive connections we need. Connie explains why return to office mandates rarely solve the problem, and how loneliness can quietly drain motivation, creativity and trust, the lifeblood of performance.

Connie gives practical guidance for leaders to understand, normalise and address loneliness through small but powerful shifts in conversation, time and reward systems.

If you’re leading a team or organisation, this episode will help you see loneliness as a core signal of how well your culture enables people to thrive, perform and feel human.

You’ll hear about:

What loneliness at work really means
Common myths about hybrid work and connection
Signs leaders should look for in their teams
The UNITE framework for reducing loneliness
Why connection drives productivity and creativity
How AI is reshaping human connection at work
Practical steps for leaders and individuals

More about Connie

Dr Connie Noonan Hadley is an organisational psychologist. She is the founder of the Institute for Life at Work and a research associate professor at the Boston University Questrom School of Business. Her focal areas include the impact of Al on interpersonal dynamics at work, loneliness, psychological safety, trust, burnout, mental health, team effectiveness, and the management of human capital.

Connie has been published widely and was named to the Thinkers50Radar List for her rising global influence as a management scholar.

Institute for Life at Work
Connie’s profile
The HBR article (including the loneliness tool) ‘We’re still lonely at work’

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“Connection is a performance driver, not a luxury.”

Dr Connie Noonan Hadley — organisational psychologist and founder of the Institute for Life at Work

VIEW RUNNING ORDER

00.00	Why loneliness is a strategic signal.
02.45	Defining workplace loneliness and emotional distress.
06.07	Breaking stereotypes about lonely people at work.
08.27	Why returning to the office doesn’t fix loneliness.
10.15	What healthy connection at work really looks like.
12.41	Should leaders be responsible for emotional care?
15.27	Spotting hidden loneliness in teams.
18.07	Building psychological safety for honest conversations.
18.45	The UNITE framework for connection.
21.28	Why connection requires time and reward systems.
23.54	Advice for new CEOs tackling disconnection.
25.46	How AI is changing relationships at work.
30.10	Her superpower and how she uses it.
32.47	The impact Connie wants to have on the world.
34.27	Habits that help her perform at her best.
36.00	A simple way to help others (and yourself) feel less lonely.