3 Ways Global Mobility Tackles Social Muscle Atrophy

Social Muscle Atrophy (SMA) is quietly eroding organizations from within. Defined as the gradual decline in employees' abilities to communicate, collaborate, and effectively navigate workplace interactions, SMA is costing companies billions in lost productivity and innovation. Think of it as the corporate equivalent of skipping leg day at the gym.  

Alarmingly, a groundbreaking new study by Pryority Group and The Center for Generational Kinetics reveals this isn’t just a workplace annoyance—it’s a full-blown crisis. Employees confess they'd rather clean toilets than ask a coworker for help!

The study also revealed a quirky but troubling statistic. 43% of executives suffer from “false self-sufficiency,” stubbornly insisting on handling everything solo. This is a far larger number than than managers (28%) or employees (27%). Weak social skills are actively driving turnover, making SMA the #1 organizational headache linked to employee departures. And surprise, surprise: Gen Z workers report 27% more SMA struggles than their Boomer counterparts, signaling a generational retention meltdown.

But there's an exciting antidote: using talent mobility to intentionally treat SMA. Many global mobility initiatives like rotational programs, leadership development programs, and even internships can play pivotal roles in driving deeper connections within organizations. Here are three strategic ways mobility initiatives can whip social engagement into shape, support meaningful connections, and boost collaboration:

1. Immersive Assignments for Cross-cultural Collaboration: Global assignments or rotations give employees a workout in communication and collaboration, immersing them in diverse cultural gyms where empathy, cultural intelligence, and interpersonal strength are built naturally.
2. Short-term Mobility for Rapid Network Expansion: Even short assignments or extended business trips can turbocharge an employee's internal network—think speed-dating, but for professional connections! These quick interactions help bust workplace silos and rebuild critical social skills.
3. Talent Exchanges to Reignite Employee Engagement: Structured talent exchanges between offices or departments act as professional "buddy systems," promoting peer-to-peer learning and mutual support. Employees return home with stronger social muscles, refreshed confidence, and ready to tackle workplace interactions head on.

In other words, by intentionally embedding social workouts into your global mobility strategies, your organization can kick SMA to the curb. That means unlocking greater innovation, creating stronger collaboration, and raising employee satisfaction.