Imagination to address loneliness

The group sessions I run on imagination can offer an antidote to isolation and loneliness. There is a pressing need; addressing this ‘epidemic’ is vital to retain staff, said Sophie Renton, from McCrindle, at the recent Bondi Innovation Forum.

She highlighted the experience of Gen Z as an example. Like so many, this cohort emerged from the isolation of lockdowns to work-from-home settings. Except there was a difference; many had never had the experience of working among colleagues in an office setting. And for many, their final years of study had been in isolation.

While remote work offers much sought after freedoms, at risk is a sense of belonging, community.

We can do something about that especially as coming out of lockdowns did not make loneliness disappear. Instead, 54 per cent of people are lonelier after the pandemic, according to the KPMG Australia report Connections Matter.

“Workplace loneliness is related to lower job and team performance, reduced productivity, increased workplace errors, reduced organisational commitment and poorer staff retention,” said KPMG mental health advisor Andrew Dempster.

The report found:

• 37 per cent of young Australians are lonely

• one in four Australians will experience loneliness in their lifetimes

• loneliness leads to a 26 per cent increased risk of death (being lonely is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes or consuming six alcoholic drinks daily)

• the annual healthcare cost to the Australian economy is $2.7 billion while mental health issues related to loneliness (like depression) represent a $60 million economic cost.

Perhaps, we should throw everything at loneliness to do our best to reduce its impact.

I run sessions that invite groups to imagine together. The group is encouraged to use their imaginations collectively to advance an idea or a story, to share how they ‘see’ the world.

Laughter often comes with abundance as we celebrate the fact that so often, we view our world differently. We invite nuance and original ideas that often lead to surprising twists and turns that can take us along an unexpected journey.

By the session’s end, connections develop through this community, teambuilding initiative And, all the while, skills honed through imagining as part of a team; cooperation, collaboration, problem solving and the confidence that grows from ideas generation alongside a willingness to share ideas and encourage others to spark fresh possibilities.

The reason I run these sessions? Because I’d like my work to make a meaningful difference. If you’d like to learn more, reach out by DM or email dawn@imaginationsession.com