From Manager of Information to Steward of Human Connection

a jigsaw puzzle piece attached to a heart with a piece of string representing human connection

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, the summaries, the meeting notes, the status updates, and increasingly, the first draft of almost everything. The transactional work that used to consume huge portions of a leader’s week is … Read more

Why Workplace Friendships Aren’t Protecting Leaders from Disconnection

a blue hot air balloon above the clouds a metaphor for workplace loneliness and workplace relationships

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: How Leaders Rebuild Connection in Teams

workplace disconnection caused by disconnected leaders resulting in disconnected teams

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

Your Colleagues Called. They Miss You.

a line drawing of a robot colleague emerging from a computer screen high fiving a human colleague sitting at a desk representing workplace loneliness and AI

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

Why Human Connection Matters More in an AI World

Morag Barrett keynote speaker on human connection at work

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