How Connection Shapes Our Health and Work: A Conversation with Dr. Bobbi Wegner

I had the privilege to speak with Dr. Bobbi Wegner, a clinical psychologist, educator, and entrepreneur who’s deeply passionate about emotional wellness and fostering authentic human connections. Dr. Bobbi, who teaches organizational psychology at Harvard, has created an innovative platform called GROOPS to bring people together in guided conversations, modernizing mental health support. Our conversation resonated with everything I believe about the power of connection, and I'm excited to share what I learned.

The Intersection of Clinical and Organizational Psychology

Dr. Bobbi explained how her background in clinical psychology naturally extended into organizational work. Essentially, human behavior is human behavior—whether it’s individual mental health or group dynamics in a workplace. She teaches at Harvard’s School of Education and professional education divisions, helping teams understand how social relationships deeply affect business and health outcomes. I appreciated how she described bringing clinical skills into organizational contexts, helping companies optimize teams, increase cohesion, and boost overall wellbeing.

Building and Sustaining Strong Teams

Our conversation turned to the unique challenges hypergrowth companies face when rapidly scaling their teams. Dr. Bobbi emphasized the need for self-awareness in leadership and creating psychologically safe environments where people can openly admit problems and innovate without fear. She pointed out that vulnerability from leaders sets the tone for the entire team, fostering a culture where challenges are addressed transparently, speeding up solutions and improving efficiency. That story about Ford Motor Company turning around its culture by encouraging executives to openly mark “red light” weeks really struck a chord with me.

Cohesion Is Key Across Company Types

We also talked about legacy companies facing pressures to innovate and adapt. Dr. Bobbi described how highly cohesive teams with psychological safety are the ones most willing to take risks and foster innovation. That is relevant not only for big corporations but also small businesses like those I work with in staffing and sales. The real takeaway: maintaining connection among workers and leadership is essential whether a company is scaling fast or working to modernize.

Lessons From My Own Leadership Experience

I shared with Dr. Bobbi a story from when I ran a company with a fractured culture. For weeks, employees came to my office with problems, unsure how I would respond. I changed the dynamic by insisting employees come with possible solutions, so we could work on solving issues together. That empowered them to co-create solutions and built engagement. Dr. Bobbi described this approach as intrinsic motivation—giving people autonomy, mastery, and purpose—which leads to better cohesion and better business results. This ties to what I've observed in staffing: paying well isn't enough without a healthy culture that connects people deeper than transactions.

The Parallel Between Sales and Team Building

Dr. Bobbi and I agreed a lot of leadership is like sales: you're building relationships to keep people loyal and motivated. Investing in your current people yields better results than always hunting for new ones. In business and life, focusing on relationships, shared goals, and clear communication provides stickiness and long-term health to the enterprise. It was great to hear this confirmed from her research and teaching.

Groups: Where Connection Meets Wellness

Dr. Bobbi shared how her startup Groups began as a consumer wellness app to help strangers come together for deep conversations about common struggles like stress, parenting, and work-life balance. Pivoting to bring this concept to workplaces, Groups offers organizations a way to scale psychological safety and connection affordably. Highly cohesive companies are enthusiastic clients, because connection drives business and personal wellbeing. I instantly envisioned many companies I work with benefiting from Groups to build health into their culture.

Human Connection Matters Most

As we wrapped up, Dr. Bobbi emphasized a point close to my heart: we are hardwired for connection. Whether in leadership, family, or friendships, the question to ask ourselves is—does this interaction bring us closer or drive us apart? Even during conflict, prioritizing deeper relational connection improves outcomes for everyone involved. This simple lens can guide our behavior daily, improving how we relate and how we thrive.

Final Thoughts

Talking with Dr. Bobbi renewed my appreciation for the power of authentic connection—whether in clinical settings, corporate boardrooms, or everyday relationships. It's clear to me that fostering real cohesion, psychological safety, and open communication not only improves business outcomes but also profoundly impacts health and happiness. For those interested in building stronger teams or exploring psychology, Dr. Bobbi's insights offer practical, research-backed pathways forward.

If you want to learn more about her work and GROOPS, you can find information at joingroops.com or by searching “Bobbi Wegner.” This conversation was a fantastic reminder that no matter the context, connection truly is the foundation of health and success.