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1981

Abstract

e, and provide.</p><p id="8f0a">We 21st century human beings have many complex needs and demands in order to exist and thrive. It is staggering to think of all the thousands of things our companies do across this country. Every company, team, and industry comprises highly sophisticated and amazing human beings. And yet, something is missing...</p><h2 id="87df">Leadership Amnesia</h2><p id="162b">In many companies, the top producers and hardest workers are the ones who get promoted to management and leadership positions. But on the way up the corporate ladder, many suffer from what I call “leadership amnesia.” They have become good at performing and producing what the company wants but have forgotten what it means to be human. They have forgotten what it is like to have a life outside of work. They deny that others have emotions of stress and fear of failure that impede productivity. They forget what it is like to feel like you don’t fit in or are not as good as the rest of the team. They disregard how refreshing and renewing it is to be fully present to your family on vacation without the distraction of emails, texts, and meetings.</p><h2 id="e915">How Could Leadership Be More Human?</h2><p id="edbd">What do I mean by “human leadership?” Human leadership is an integrated way of being, relating, and leading that builds natural and authentic bridges with those around us. We stand in the fullness of what it means for each of us to be human. Then we lead in a way that connects and builds with others around these common aspects of our humanity.</p><h2 id="02f3">Components of Humanity</h2><p id="f022">What it means to be human has been debated for centuries. I would suggest that our most basic humanity consists of being physical, emotional, intellectual, relational, and spiritual. The degree to which we remember and dignify these aspects of our humanity is the degree to which we uncover buried gold in our companies. Think of these five aspects of our hu

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manity as the chambers of the heart; all are needed to fire and engage in order for us to live and lead at our highest capacity and potential.</p><p id="4832">Under human leadership, employees feel seen, heard, cared for and respected<i> </i>in the fullness of their unique human experience. Under human leadership, employees are naturally and intrinsically more engaged, productive, collaborative, creative, and caring. Strong human leadership implies we are human beings, all having a shared corporate experience.</p><h2 id="f4b5">Being Human on Work Teams</h2><p id="dda8">Years ago, when I was part of the team at Bank of America, we had a manager who would lead our team in unconventional ways. He wanted to have a team-building and strategy day. Did he say let’s meet in the conference room in our best suits, stare at the same four walls we see every day and get creative? No, he said, “let’s meet at my house, come in jeans and t-shirts. We will hang out, have lunch, and see how we can address our current work challenges and goals differently.” Guess what? We are different away from the office, in jeans and just hanging out. We were so much more creative and collaborative. We did something human together. We shared with one another; we changed the geography. In fact, we changed just about everything. Being away from the corporate office allowed us to become more relaxed and connected.</p><p id="1125">Next time you want your corporate team to get creative, innovative, and productive, try doing something human together and see what happens.</p><p id="0536">To learn more about how human leadership can strengthen your leadership and team, <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=Your%20Article%20on%20Medium"><b>email</b></a> me or click on the button below to find a time for us to connect.</p><figure id="cb94"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*4sGfvCBEyCbkfNBGWJFHiQ.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></article></body>

The Importance of Being Human at Work

In a prior corporate life, I made frequent trips to New York to meet with clients about corporate and investment banking transactions we were working on. On a return flight home from La Guardia to Charlotte, I struck up a conversation with the person sitting next to me. She was a 23-year-old investment banking analyst at a competitor bank.

As we continued our conversation, I was deeply moved by this young woman’s corporate story. I naively assumed that she would be full of life, excitement and challenge at having a great first job right out of school. Instead, I heard a very different story.

“I work all the time and I have no life,” she said. “I am only 23 years old, making $100,000, and I am miserable.” She explained that every week night she would work at the bank until 9 or 10. “I have no social life, I don’t have a boyfriend because I have no time to date. This is August and I have worked every weekend but two this year.” As she told me more of her miserable corporate existence, I could hear the emptiness of her words, heart, and soul. She was a highly paid 23-year-old who was unhappy. “The bank fully intends to burn us out after a few years, knowing we will quit and get an MBA.” This young woman was treated like a corporate machine, not a human being.

Most Companies Are Made Up of Human Beings

I know the presence of AI (artificial intelligence) is on the rise, but it still takes a human being to tell the AI what to do. We connect under one roof, or connect now on Zoom, to accomplish a myriad of corporate missions. We gather in teams and companies to create, invent, discover, sell, repair, renovate, cure, educate, train, inspire, and provide.

We 21st century human beings have many complex needs and demands in order to exist and thrive. It is staggering to think of all the thousands of things our companies do across this country. Every company, team, and industry comprises highly sophisticated and amazing human beings. And yet, something is missing...

Leadership Amnesia

In many companies, the top producers and hardest workers are the ones who get promoted to management and leadership positions. But on the way up the corporate ladder, many suffer from what I call “leadership amnesia.” They have become good at performing and producing what the company wants but have forgotten what it means to be human. They have forgotten what it is like to have a life outside of work. They deny that others have emotions of stress and fear of failure that impede productivity. They forget what it is like to feel like you don’t fit in or are not as good as the rest of the team. They disregard how refreshing and renewing it is to be fully present to your family on vacation without the distraction of emails, texts, and meetings.

How Could Leadership Be More Human?

What do I mean by “human leadership?” Human leadership is an integrated way of being, relating, and leading that builds natural and authentic bridges with those around us. We stand in the fullness of what it means for each of us to be human. Then we lead in a way that connects and builds with others around these common aspects of our humanity.

Components of Humanity

What it means to be human has been debated for centuries. I would suggest that our most basic humanity consists of being physical, emotional, intellectual, relational, and spiritual. The degree to which we remember and dignify these aspects of our humanity is the degree to which we uncover buried gold in our companies. Think of these five aspects of our humanity as the chambers of the heart; all are needed to fire and engage in order for us to live and lead at our highest capacity and potential.

Under human leadership, employees feel seen, heard, cared for and respected in the fullness of their unique human experience. Under human leadership, employees are naturally and intrinsically more engaged, productive, collaborative, creative, and caring. Strong human leadership implies we are human beings, all having a shared corporate experience.

Being Human on Work Teams

Years ago, when I was part of the team at Bank of America, we had a manager who would lead our team in unconventional ways. He wanted to have a team-building and strategy day. Did he say let’s meet in the conference room in our best suits, stare at the same four walls we see every day and get creative? No, he said, “let’s meet at my house, come in jeans and t-shirts. We will hang out, have lunch, and see how we can address our current work challenges and goals differently.” Guess what? We are different away from the office, in jeans and just hanging out. We were so much more creative and collaborative. We did something human together. We shared with one another; we changed the geography. In fact, we changed just about everything. Being away from the corporate office allowed us to become more relaxed and connected.

Next time you want your corporate team to get creative, innovative, and productive, try doing something human together and see what happens.

To learn more about how human leadership can strengthen your leadership and team, email me or click on the button below to find a time for us to connect.