Tag: empathetic leadership

Faces of HR: The “Squiggly” Path to People Success—Meet Deel’s Alice Burks

Alice Burks, Deel‘s Director of People Success, is a leader with a mission: to make sure everyone at Deel thrives. With ten years of experience guiding teams, both within companies and as a consultant, Burks has worked with fast-growing companies like Danish tech giant Trustpilot, plus global clients in IT, manufacturing, and retail.  At Deel, […]

Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Applying the “Cheers” Principle to Employee Engagement 

The iconic theme song from the sitcom Cheers captures a fundamental human desire: to be recognized, valued, and part of a close-knit community. The lyrics, “Where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came,” encapsulate a culture of belonging and camaraderie. While Cheers was a fictional Boston bar, its underlying principle can be […]

Leading with Empathy: HR’s Role Amidst DEI Restrictions

For minority and LGBTQ+ employees in the U.S., the rise of DEI bans is triggering anxieties that go beyond job security. The very foundations of psychological safety and workplace belonging are being questioned. This uncertainty is taking a significant mental health toll, impacting employees both at work and beyond. In this Q&A, Sarah Reynolds, CMO […]

DEI Rollback: 3 Ways to Navigate Policy Shifts Without Losing Your Team

Corporate giants like Disney, Meta, and Target are making headlines with DEI policy reversals, spurred by recent anti-DEI executive orders. But what’s the real cost? These shifts can breed employee distrust and drive attrition. In our latest Q&A, change management expert Shannon Gabriel, VP of Leadership Solutions at TBM Consulting, reveals the critical mistakes leaders […]

The Continued Need for Kind Leadership: Impacts on Productivity and Competitive Advantage 

When I stepped into the CEO role at Dexian in July 2023, I aimed to strengthen our people-centered organization further, so that everyone would be valued and treated with respect and understanding. Our business succeeds when our people succeed. For this reason, we focus on nurturing an environment where everyone—our employees, clients, and consultants—can maximize […]

Workplace Communication Crisis? Business Leaders Are the Answer

Communication today feels like a relentless loop of Zoom calls, Teams meetings, and overflowing inboxes. We jump from task to task, rarely pausing to think, breathe, or connect. Even a well-intentioned text can land wrong, leaving teammates feeling more isolated than ever. Nearly half of workers—45%— feel emotionally drained by the end of the day […]

Meeting in the Middle: How HR Can Overcome Gen Z’s Leadership Reluctance in 2025

Across every industry, the evidence is clear: Gen Z isn’t all that interested in climbing the corporate ladder. According to a recent survey from Robert Walters North, more than half of young professionals want nothing to do with traditional management roles. And Randstad’s Workmonitor 2024 survey confirms that nearly two out of five aren’t interested in career […]

The Power of Empathy in Leadership: Driving Innovation and Engagement

In a recent interview, Microsoft’s CEO emphasized a profound insight: empathy is the most significant source of innovation. This statement resonates deeply, positioning empathy not only as a human value but as a teachable skill essential for meeting people’s needs, fostering innovation, and engaging employees. Empathy, when combined with compassion, transcends simply recognizing emotion; it […]

How Your Benefits Can Support Your Employees from Stressful “Life Change” Events

It’s been over five decades since the Holmes-Rahe stress scale recognized the impact of life events on a person’s stress level, and the correlation with physical wellness and well-being. Although more recent research has refined the original stress index, it remains uncontroversial that navigating a life event affects every pillar of a person’s well-being (physical, […]

Building a Supportive, Resilient Workplace Through Empathy

You’d think being nice and being empathetic are one and the same. Think again. Niceness creates a passive, polite atmosphere where people are encouraged not to rock the boat. Empathy, on the other hand, stresses a deeper connection, a feeling of psychological safety and understanding. Which environment will be more creative, innovative, and successful? An […]