Human Connection

When Starbucks introduced order-ahead, I fought it; one more way to lose the human moment. Years later, I use it too. But this morning, a barista's genuine "welcome in" reminded me what convenience quietly costs us. The same trade-off is happening in our organizations—in back-to-back meetings and Slack threads with no room left for real connection. Here's what that's costing your team, and why circle is part of the answer.

I’ve worked with a lot of middle managers—the ones who bridge the frontline and the executive suite. It’s one of the most critical roles in any organization, and often where strategy either takes hold or falls apart. One reason why: conflict avoidance. Managers promoted for their individual skill aren’t always prepared for the interpersonal dynamics of leading others. But what if conflict isn’t the threat we think it is? What if it’s actually a gift?

I once briefed an executive team on assessment findings about their talent infrastructure. I invited questions, encouraged dialogue, checked in often. The senior leaders engaged. The mid-level managers — the ones most affected by the findings — said almost nothing. I later learned the group stayed 20 minutes after I left to really talk. It wasn't me, or the findings. It was the culture. Why is it so hard for people to be vulnerable in meetings?

What happens when we truly stop and look at one another? In our busy, noise-filled workplaces, the simple act of holding another person's gaze has become almost radical — and yet it may be one of the most powerful leadership practices available to us. Explore what the art of looking reveals about human connection, vulnerability, and the kind of seeing that quietly changes culture.