Building Connection at Work: 10 Questions Every Leader Should Ask

Here’s a spicy take some folks need to hear:

Building connection at work is a daily habit, not something you save for your quarterly offsite.

Real connection doesn’t come from one-off events or team-building exercises. It grows through small, consistent moments of curiosity, the kind that make people feel seen, heard, and valued.

Why Connection Matters

After years of coaching leaders and teams through transformation, I’ve noticed a pattern: the strongest teams aren’t just aligned on goals, they’re connected as people.

Connection builds trust. 

Trust builds psychological safety.

And psychological safety is what allows teams to speak up, challenge ideas, and collaborate effectively.

When teams talk about how they’re doing, not just what they’re doing, they move faster and handle change with more confidence.

How Leaders Build Connection

You don’t build connection at work through big speeches or away days. You build it one conversation at a time, by asking better questions.

Below is a shortlist of questions we’ve seen work again and again. They open honest dialogue, strengthen relationships, and make it safe for people to bring their full selves to work.

1 What’s energising you most about your work right now? What’s draining you?

Spot motivation early. These insights reveal where energy flows, and where it’s being lost.

2 Where are you feeling stuck, and how can I support you?

Build trust by showing genuine support, not judgement.

3 What’s one thing our team could do differently to work better together?

Encourage shared ownership. When people help shape how the team operates, commitment follows.

4 How are you feeling about your workload and priorities?

Keep wellbeing in the conversation. It’s easier to adjust than recover from burnout.

5 What’s something you’ve learned recently that excited you?

Celebrate curiosity and continuous learning, both are essential for innovation.

6 What’s happening outside work that’s affecting your focus or energy?

Humanise your conversations. Everyone’s life outside work affects how they show up inside it.

7 What feedback do you have about how I’m showing up as your leader?

Model vulnerability. When leaders invite feedback, they show that it’s safe for others to do the same.

8 What would make you feel more valued and recognised in your role?

Recognition doesn’t have to be formal. Often, it’s about knowing what matters most to each person.

9 How connected do you feel to our team’s purpose and goals?

Purpose fuels motivation. Checking in helps people see how their work contributes to the bigger picture.

10 What’s one way we could celebrate our wins better as a team?

Celebration strengthens belonging and momentum, especially when things get tough.

From Work Talk to Human Talk

These questions shift the conversation from tasks to people.
They help leaders move from managing performance to nurturing relationships.

Used regularly, they build the kind of connection that holds teams together through uncertainty, a foundation for trust, creativity, and change readiness.

Try one or two in your next check-in and notice what happens.

Ready to Build More Connected Teams?

At The Brick Coach, we help organisations get change-ready.
If you’re ready to boost your team’s connection and trust, get in touch.