Layoffs are no longer exceptional events. With AI-driven restructurings accelerating across every industry, career transitions have become a recurring feature of professional life. And while most layoff advice focuses on the mechanics, we’ve found that relationships after a layoff are the real differentiator. It’s not your resume that determines whether you land in three weeks … Read more
Meaning-FULL Connectivity™ is the capacity and intentional practice of creating meaningful connection with ourselves and others through trust, empathy, presence, and authentic workplace relationships. And right now, many workplaces are struggling with it. Not because people don’t care. Not because teams aren’t communicating. But because communication and connection are not the same thing. Most organizations … Read more
Human connection is becoming one of the most important leadership differentiators in the age of AI.AI is taking the information job. It’s handling the coordination, summaries, meeting notes, status updates, and, increasingly, the first draft of almost everything. This is the transactional work that used to consume huge portions of a leader’s week, and is … Read more
You’ve probably heard the phrase: “It’s lonely at the top.” And while there’s truth in that idea, our latest Ally Mindset™ Profile data suggests something more nuanced, and more concerning, is happening inside today’s workplaces. Senior leaders are not necessarily alone. But many still feel profoundly disconnected. That distinction matters, because it changes everything about … Read more
Workplace disconnection is becoming one of the biggest leadership challenges facing organizations today. Your team is talking constantly. Slack messages. Zoom calls. Status updates. Meetings about the meetings. And yet people still feel disconnected at work. Leaders tell me some version of the same thing every week:“Collaboration feels harder.”“People seem checked out.”“We’re communicating more than … Read more
by Eric Spencer Workplace loneliness is at a crisis point. Most organizations are making it worse — accidentally. Here’s what the research says, and what to do about it. I wrote this article with the help of an AI. First time. And yes, it felt a little weird. I’m a GenX leadership consultant who has … Read more
Let me tell you what’s quietly happening while you’re busy optimizing your workflows. Your most important career skill, the one that no algorithm can replicate, is atrophying. And most of us haven’t noticed, because the thing replacing it feels like connection. It has the shape of a connection. It’s just not the real thing. I’m talking about … Read more
Want to know a secret? Listening is the key to building stronger relationships. Think about the last conversation you had with someone at work. Who were you speaking to? What were you talking about? And here’s the question that matters most: Did that conversation leave your relationship stronger, weaker, or in the same place as … Read more
Have you ever noticed how some leaders effortlessly build high-performing teams while others struggle to keep their people engaged? The difference often comes down to a fundamental leadership mindset shift—moving from “me” to “we.” I know because I lived it. I first explored this critical shift from me-first to we-first thinking in my book Cultivate: … Read more
Loneliness isn’t just a personal issue anymore—it’s a public health crisis. Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, recently declared an epidemic of loneliness, which has only fueled my mission to foster connection at work. The findings Dr Murthy highlights in his report are eerily similar to the insights I’ve gathered through research for both … Read more