There is always time to scrutinize spreadsheets, dissect metrics, and enforce policies with surgical precision. Yet the most valuable asset walks through your door each morning wearing emotions, dreams, and untapped potential, almost unnoticed.
When was the last time you genuinely asked about someone’s weekend without glancing at your watch?
The companies that scale don’t just manage tasks—they nurture relationships. What if the breakthrough you’re seeking isn’t in another dashboard but in understanding why Sarah from accounting stays late on Wednesdays or what drives Miguel’s meticulous attention to customer feedback?
Research consistently shows that personally valued employees outperform their counterparts by significant margins. Google’s Project Aristotle discovered that psychological safety—feeling seen and heard—was the strongest predictor of team success, not technical brilliance or strategic alignment.
Historical examples abound. When Alan Mulally turned around Ford, he began by learning names and stories, not just production numbers. Before diving into financials, he rebuilt human connections.
Your team delivers metrics because they must. They’ll deliver miracles when they feel they matter.
The irony? When you stop treating people as means to your business ends, they become precisely that—the engine that drives extraordinary outcomes.
Taking time to know your people isn’t just nice. It’s the most strategic move you can make today.
