Your Brain on Work: Why Feeling Seen at Work Feels So Good
You know that feeling when someone at work seems to really see you? You feel understood. You feel seen. Well, there’s a reason why it feels so good.
You know that feeling when someone at work seems to really see you?
A personalized thank you that shows your boss really noticed your contributions.
A colleague asking about your special weekend you mentioned weeks ago.
A surprise gift that recognizes something important to you.
These moments can feel surprisingly good.
Because for a moment, you feel like more than just your job.
You feel understood.
You feel seen.
And there's a reason why.
What’s happening in your brain?
Inside your beautiful human brain is a reward system.
This system responds to things that make us feel good.
Things like food, pleasure, and even positive social experiences.
When someone truly sees you at work, your brain responds to that positive social experience as something rewarding.
Which means feeling seen at work doesn't just feel good psychologically.
Your brain is actually rewarding the experience, too.
And that makes us feel good.
Why being seen at work feels so good
At work, a lot of what we do is about contributing.
We solve problems.
We make decisions.
We get things done.
So when someone notices something specific about how we personally contribute, it can feel especially good.
But sometimes, it's not even about the work.
Someone remembers your kid's birthday.
Someone asks how your pet is doing.
Someone wants to see pictures from your holiday.
For a moment, you're not just a role or a job title.
Someone is noticing you.
And that positive experience feels good, too.
So what can we do about it?
Start noticing what makes you feel seen.
Is it when someone remembers something personal?
Gives you a specific thank you?
Or notices something about the way you think or work that you didn't expect them to notice?
Those moments can tell you something about what matters to you.
Then try creating more of those moments for someone else.
Give a specific thank you.
Remember the details they shared.
Ask about something that matters to them beyond their work.
You don't need a big gesture.
Sometimes feeling seen comes from something very small, someone remembering, noticing, or saying, I see you.
Because people don't just want to be recognized for what they do at work.
They want to feel seen for who they are, too.
Your Brain on Work is a WorkSense™ publication exploring the psychology behind our everyday experiences at work - and using those insights to help work make sense.