Reclaiming the Tribe: A Call for Connection in the Modern Workplace

Photo by Joshua Davis on Unsplash

A Personal Reflection

I’ve lived with depression for as long as I can remember. It’s an invisible companion that quietly shapes how I perceive and navigate the world. This article isn’t about one job or one toxic boss; it’s about the collective experience of workplaces where connection too often feels like a luxury rather than a right.

Throughout my career, I’ve often struggled to connect and feel truly included. That might sound odd coming from someone in a leadership role. But when you're expected to inspire and produce, asking for emotional support can feel… complicated. You're not just carrying responsibilities—you’re carrying a silence about the weight behind them.

I’m writing this not just as a professional, but as someone who’s wrestled with the quiet ache of isolation. And who believes we can build something better?

Imagine a workplace where connection isn't a perk—it’s the core. A place less like a collection of desks and more like a tribe. Not in a primal sense, but in a relational one: mutual support, shared purpose, and emotional safety as the cultural default.

Robin Williams once said:

“I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone.”

That quote echoes in my mind often. And it’s not just about life—it’s painfully relevant to work. Johann Hari, in his TED Talk in 2019, highlighted that isolation and lack of control in our daily lives can be precursors to depression. This can apply to our work lives. The message is clear: when the workplace strips people of agency and connection, it doesn’t just impact productivity, it chips away at well-being.

So, how do we flip the script?

The Tribal Shift

To reverse isolation, we need to make connections intentionally.

• Foster Psychological Safety: Create environments where emotions aren't liabilities, but invitations to understand each other more deeply.

• Empathy in Action: Move beyond surface pleasantries. Ask how someone is—and hold space for the answer.

• Shared Purpose: Reorient teams toward not just what they're doing, but why they’re doing it—and who they’re doing it with.

The Ripple Effect

When people feel seen and supported, depression doesn't get the same foothold. It’s not a silver bullet, but it's a beginning. The tribe doesn’t erase the struggle, but it makes it lighter to carry.

This isn’t just about productivity or retention metrics—it’s about making work human again.

A Few Personal Scenarios…That May Hit a Nerve with You

The Silent Morning

I recall a morning when I arrived early to work, surrounded by people yet feeling completely alone. I felt like I was greeted with surface-level smiles, a stack of responsibilities, and not a single genuine “How are you?” I reflected on how that shaped my emotional landscape that day, and how different it might’ve felt in a tribal setting.

“I remember sitting at my desk, the hum of the building waking up around me. Emails, meetings, deliverables, but not once did anyone ask if I was okay. That silence was louder than everything else.”

Leading While Lonely

When thinking of a moment when I was in a leadership role, expected to rally the team and hit targets, yet internally I was struggling with depression. The contrast between external confidence and internal vulnerability underscored how emotional disconnect often hides in plain sight.

“I once led a campaign that brought in great numbers, but during the entire stretch, I felt like I was performing a role rather than showing up as myself. I didn’t know how to ask for support without fear of appearing weak.”

The Question That Wasn’t Asked

When I reflect on a time when a colleague came close to noticing something was off, but didn’t dig deeper. That brief moment of almost-connection illustrated how easily support gets missed in fast-paced environments.

“There was a day someone said, ‘You seem quiet today,’ then quickly moved on. I wanted to say, ‘I don’t know how to be here right now,’ but the moment passed. Sometimes, what people don’t ask says more than what they do.”

The Breath of Nature

Since Hari’s quote about nature resonated with me, I thought of a time I took a walk through a trail or ran outside after a difficult workday, and it shifted something internally. That contrast grounded me in sensory detail and offered a glimmer of healing.

“I left the office one evening and just kept walking. No destination, just trees and silence. The further I got from the fluorescent lights, the easier it was to breathe.”

The Time We Give to Work, And What We Don’t Get Back

We spend more of our waking hours at work than anywhere else. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, full-time employees work an average of 8.4 hours per weekday—that’s over 2,000 hours a year, not including commute time, mental load, or the emotional residue we carry home.

And yet, mental health support in the workplace often feels like an afterthought. We’re expected to show up, perform, lead, and deliver—while quietly managing the weight of depression, anxiety, or burnout.

The irony? When mental health is prioritized, productivity doesn’t suffer—it soars. The World Health Organization estimates that 12 billion working days are lost annually due to depression and anxiety, costing the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity. In the U.S. alone, unresolved depression accounts for a 35% reduction in productivity, contributing to $210.5 billion in losses each year.

Imagine the shift if we treated mental health not as a personal burden, but as a shared responsibility. If the hours we give to work were met with environments that gave something back—empathy, support, and space to breathe.

Closing Thoughts: What If We Choose Connection?

We can’t always control the nature of our work, but we can shape the culture we build around it. What if the workplace weren’t just where we clock in, but where we were truly seen? What if results didn’t come at the cost of belonging? If we spend so many of our waking hours at work, isn’t it worth asking, not just what we’re working on, but who we’re working with, and whether we’re showing up for each other?

The tribe we long for isn't a fantasy. It's a choice. One conversation, one act of empathy, one shift in how we lead—it’s all within reach. And maybe, by choosing connection, we not only soften the edges of our struggle, but help someone else feel a little less alone in theirs.