When it comes to developing high-performing teams, researchers have long appreciated that three psychological needs are essential: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Decades of research demonstrate that when people feel psychologically fulfilled, they tend to be healthier, happier, and more productive.

Out of these three essential needs, relatedness has always been the trickiest for organisations to cultivate. It’s one thing to attract talented employees — yet how exactly do you get them to relate to one other? Every workplace has the opportunity to fuel people’s basic psychological needs for relatedness and lift team performance.