"What is the most innate in all of us is that ability to be able to put ourselves in other people's shoes and see the world the way they see it. That's empathy. That's at the heart of design thinking. When we say innovation is all about meeting unmet, unarticulated needs of the marketplace, it's ultimately the unmet and articulated needs of people, and organizations that are made up of people. "
Satya Nadella | Speaking with Harvard Business Review
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We need each other.
Last week, we explored how meaningful feedback is essential to team success. This week, the destructive fires in Los Angeles—a place I know well having grown up in Riverside (60 miles away)—have reminded me of something even more fundamental: we are stronger when we come together.
Building genuine relationships feels increasingly elusive in today's fractured workplace. As teams navigate hybrid schedules and span continents, meaningful collaboration often gets lost in the digital noise. The emergence of AI and evolving generational preferences are fundamentally reshaping how we work, connect, and lead.
This month's resources are dedicated to exploring how we can strengthen connection, both in your workplaces and communities.
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💜 The Heart
Tools to support your conscious leadership practice.
📘 The future belongs to human skills [Video/Book]
Daniel Pink’s 2006 book, “A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future,” feels written for this very moment. As automation accelerates, sometimes overlooked right-brain qualities—like empathy and storytelling—are becoming the true drivers of innovation and leadership. Pink draws from neuroscience and business cases to demonstrate why these creative and relational skills are indispensable. Over the years, I’ve seen leaders thrive not by out-computing technology but by leaning into the imagination that only people bring to the table.
🤝 Making virtual connections real [Talk]
Is it even possible to turn digital interactions into meaningful relationships? Wes Eisenhauer’s 2020 TED talk answers ‘yes,’ and he offers a practical solution to something many hybrid workplaces still struggle with. By taking 40 online interactions offline for real coffee meetups, he learned that casual connections can lay the groundwork for deeper, more authentic relationships. If you’re navigating the virtual work landscape, his insights offer a hopeful and actionable roadmap for making digital connections more human.
🌍 Finding strength in what we share [Newsletter]
In my conversations with leaders, I’ve noticed how often we mistake proximity for connection, allowing technology and remote work to widen the gaps instead of bridging them. The “Grateful Offerings” newsletter highlights how shared hopes and challenges can develop camaraderie. What I love most is their practical framework for elevating your interactions beyond surface-level by leading with gratitude.
🧠 The Matter
Leadership trends that caught my attention.
👥 The cost of staying apart [Article]
The mechanics of modern workplaces undermine the social skills essential to leadership. In “The Anti-Social Century,” Derek Thompson reveals how increasingly isolated work lives reshaped how you collaborate to how you advance professionally. Everyday interactions that inform your perspective are disappearing, like crossing paths in the break room or resolving conflicts face-to-face. This piece made me yearn for us to heal ourselves and repair the bonds we’ve lost.
🌱 The opportunity of the "Great Detachment" [Article]
What happens when employees stop caring? This Forbes article on workplace trends for 2025 explores the "Great Detachment," where employee indifference leads to declining productivity and looming talent loss. It encourages leaders to look beyond basic performance indicators and focus on creating meaningful engagement and a culture of trust. For those managing the challenges of evolving employee needs, this highlights how to address disengagement by supporting well-being and building workplaces that invite commitment.
Connection calls you forward, now more than ever. Take time with these resources to reflect: How might you bridge the digital-physical divide in your workplace? What opportunities for deeper connection are you overlooking? What kind of community builder will you choose to be?
My heart is with Los Angeles as this devastation unfolds. For those wanting to help:
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority: Providing critical support to the most vulnerable.
Philanthropy California Wildfire Response: A vetted list of organizations supporting relief and recovery efforts.
Californians For All: Volunteer opportunities to help affected communities.
Remember: in times of crisis, community can be your greatest resource. Take care of yourselves, your teams, and your neighbors.
Sending love and light,
Ginny Clarke