The Heart of Leadership is Human

What Happens When We Really See Each Other

Putting Human Connection at the Heart of Leadership

When people hear "Personal Leadership," they often think of responsibility, how we communicate and our mindset. Whilst this is all part of it, there’s another quieter force at play too - one that I believe powers all the rest – and that’s ‘Human Connection’.

On each programme I run, early on, after we’ve discussed some of the differences between leadership and management and the need for this to be balanced, we get stuck into introductions.

For me the introductions are one of the most powerful elements of the programme, that has the biggest, most lasting impact. It's not a gimmick. It's not a 'nice to have'. It's the foundation for everything else. Introductions - really are more than ‘Just a Warm-Up’

First - Let’s look at what personal leadership really means.

Personal leadership is about our influence. When we recognise that we’re leading every time we influence another person, it can shift our mindset. It happens multiple times a day - every single day. My biggest leadership jobs in life? - well they’re being a Parent, Husband, Friend, and of course as an associate of The Living Leader.

And this is why human connection matters - Leadership isn’t confined to people in senior positions or the boardroom - it happens over coffee, on the school run, in passing comments, and casual conversations. It even happens in the pub.

Let’s frame this slightly differently to add some real clarity, to hopefully really hammer home the point I’m trying to make. The question is never, “Am I leading?” The real question is, “What kind of leader am I being in this moment – here - right now?

In today’s tech-driven world, I believe this has never been more important. Technically, we’re more connected than ever before - emails, messages, video calls, emoji responses and Zoom. And yet ironically, we’ve never been more disconnected from each other.

It's easier than ever to broadcast a message - and harder than ever for people to feel truly heard. That’s why, when someone takes the time to genuinely ask, “What makes you… you?”- it cuts through. It stands out.

Real connection now feels like a radical act. Done well it's a differentiator that can turn success into super success - For you - Your team - Even Your business.

Here’s a couple of examples (I’ve got countless others) and a moment (or two) that proved it.

A few months ago, I was running a programme where I was working with a diverse, multinational team from across Europe, the US and Asia. There were seven different nationalities in the room. Whilst some people said they knew each other well, others described knowing of one another. So, it was a real mixed bag.

The risk of working in a group like this? A sense of distance. Coldness. Disconnection. A potential them and us scenario.

When we got to our introductions, I took my time explaining what we were trying to achieve. We we’re going beyond what is often a ‘Standard Business Intro’.

I asked a simple but powerful question to open…

"What makes you... you?" - I then challenged everyone in the room to get beyond their CV. There's a few other questions I ask too, but I don’t want to give away everything I do on the programmes I run - One day I hope you’ll experience it for yourself.

So, our introductions, and the way we did them wasn’t about job titles, resumes, or achievements. It was about the human story behind the professional mask. What shapes us? What life experiences brought us to where we are today? What values and influences run through our day-to-day lives? These are just some of the things that I hope to tease out in our intros session.

To get the ball moving, I went first. I always do. It very much influences what comes next. The more I share, the more open I am, the more likely others will share openly too.

I spoke about my childhood - growing up, the challenges of having eczema and everything that went with that, learning resilience from an early age. I shared how now looking back, I can see how those roots still guide my leadership values today. I shared how early experiences taught me about hard work, humour, and human connection long before I had a title or a team.

Then something extraordinary happened.

We heard about a mum whose son had overcome serious illness. A man who’d secretly written a novel. Someone else revealed they'd completed a triathlon after a major injury. Another shared how moving countries several times, as their dad’s business took them around the globe, shaped their view on belonging and empathy.

In that moment, the room changed. During each intro, you could hear a pin drop.

No interjection, no questions. Just deep meaningful sharing and listening.

No roles. No corporate armour. Just people.

By the end of that session, the barriers were down. People found things out that surprised them about others in the room. They found similarities and common challenges.

There were eleven of us in the room and it took us just over two hours. Now that may seem like a huge amount of time - but really, it’s not - It’s just about ten mins each - ten quality minutes each.

People felt seen. Heard. Connected. And from that point on, the work was richer, the conversations deeper, and the progress faster.

Another Moment That Proved the Power of Intros

Now you might be sat there thinking - “I already know my team. I don’t need to run an introduction session like this.” But is that really the case?

Often we think we know people, but we carry assumptions that go untested. And those assumptions, well they can leave us blind sided to what’s really going on.

Here’s a moment I’ll never forget.

I was running a Personal Leadership Programme with a team of eight. When I explained we’d be spending some time on introductions, the Managing Director stopped me.

“Glenn, we don’t need to do this,” he said. “We already know each other really well. Some of us have worked together for ten years.”

Despite the challenge, I asked them to go with it. I encouraged them to approach it with an open mind, and I challenged them to share generously - because the more they gave, the more likely they’d get back.

And then something remarkable happened.

The fourth person to speak shared - quietly, but honestly - that they were incredibly lonely in life.

The rest of the group was stunned. They had no idea.

Suddenly, things started to make sense. The early starts. The 6pm meeting invites. The need to stay busy. What had once felt like over-commitment… looked very different in this new light.

That single moment changed how the team saw one another - and how they showed up for one another moving forward.

So, we might think we know the people we work with - But do we really? Do you?

The Leadership Lesson

Too often, we underestimate the power of getting to know each other as people. We make assumptions about people. We rush into meetings. We default to "professional mode". We hide behind structure, titles, roles and emails.

But here’s what really matters in business and in life as a whole. When people feel safe, seen, and valued - they open up. They speak up. And that’s when real leadership can happen.

We spend so much time in meetings talking at each other, and not with each other (we look at this on the Personal Leadership Programme too). We fill days with lists of tasks, sending emails and giving updates, but rarely pause to notice the people we’re doing it all alongside. And in the noise of deadlines and deliverables, connection often quietly slips away.

And let’s be honest - in a world where many of today's meetings are remote, we see people on mute, even with their cameras off, where we can ‘react’ with an emoji - creating that sense of being has never been more needed.

That’s why intentionally building human connection is so powerful - it’s the opposite of a culture that relies on 'Transactional Management'. It's a culture of 'Relationship Built Sustainable Leadership.

Here's just two of the benefits that I believe really matter. Two outcomes if you like that keep showing up - again and again - all from when leaders choose to create true Human Connection.

Benefit 1: Trust Accelerates Everything

When people know you see them, not just their output, they begin to trust you. And trust doesn’t just feel good - it speeds things up. Decisions happen faster. Feedback lands better. Collaboration becomes instinctive. Instead of working in silos, people lean in. Because they want to help. They collaborate. They feel part of and want to be part of something bigger. Call it ‘Finding their tribe’ if you like!

In one team I worked with, there’d previously been a pattern of poor communication, a lack of trust in each other and even some finger-pointing. After our intros, which used the same technique I’ve just described, the mood shifted – and it did so massively.

At the end of our first day together, one guy pulled me to one side and said - ‘I’ve never seen our team support each other like that…’” - That was music to my ears!

Trust doesn’t come from us all saying we understand the company objectives, strategy decks or mission statements. It comes from shared stories. From the moments when someone says or thinks - “Me too.”

Benefit 2: Connection Creates Cultures Where People Thrive

Do you want real collaboration? Innovation? Honesty? Sustainable growth for individuals and for your business too?

If you’re saying yes to any of these, you need psychological safety. And that comes from human connection!

When people feel like they can be themselves, without judgement, they speak up. They contribute fresh ideas. They try new stuff.

Looking back at it now and thinking about it, it’s probably one of my biggest take-aways from The Living Leader’s Personal Leadership Programme (there were a stack of other learnings too BTW). I wish I’d known this a lot earlier on in my career.

When human connection leads, egos take a back seat (and WOW I can tell you I’ve seen some big egos in my time!). People shift from “Me” to “We.” Silos dissolve. Meetings spark ideas instead of being just about what the boss thinks. And the work? It gets better. So does the team. So does life.

When you connect at a human level, you’re reminded you’re not alone. You drop the armour. You remember that leadership isn’t about having all the answers – When you can say to your team, things like – ‘Wow I don’t know the answer to that, what do you think?’ – that really is a great place to be.

Some of the most powerful moments I’ve witnessed on leadership programmes are when someone realises, “It’s OK to be me.” That moment of permission? It changes everything. It frees up energy. It invites creativity. It opens the door to authenticity – and from there, I believe, true influence.

Here's some practical ways to lead with ‘Human Connection’.

Human connection isn't just a feeling. It's a choice. And it can be built into your leadership behaviours every day:

Start with Intros - Not Agendas: Open meetings with a question. Perhaps something like - ‘What’s been going well for you this week?’

Be Present - Put your phone and laptop away: Make eye contact. Lean in. Give your full attention.

Get Curious - Not Caught Up: When someone shares something personal, follow their lead. Let them know you heard them.

Acknowledge the Person – Appreciate them properly: "You did great" is nice - but not that powerful. "I loved how you handled that tough moment with empathy and grace" goes a lot, lot deeper.

Be Brave Enough to Go First: Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s leadership. When you share, others will too. The more you share, the more you’ll get back. Focus on what you Give – It’s amazing what you’ll get back. Give ‘Intros’ a go!

Revisit the Human Story Often - Don’t make this a one-off: Reconnect regularly. Have follow-ups, and not just about work stuff. Catch-up about and celebrate non-work milestones too.

Stay connected - Even When You’re Busy: But especially when you’re busy. That’s often when people need connection the most, and often the first time we forget about its importance.

My final thoughts

Leadership isn't about knowing it all. It starts with knowing each other.

So, the next time you're tempted to jump straight into business, pause. Ask something human. Listen with intent. Share something real.

Make the space. Open the door. And then watch what happens next.

Because when we connect as people, we lead with impact.

If you’ve been on The Living Leader’s Personal Leadership Programme, have you run a ‘Behind the Mask’ – Intro’s sessions. How did you get on? What did you learn?

And if not - why not! – you’re seriously missing a trick!

#personalleadership #humanconnection The Living Leader