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Why human connection is essential for leaders and teams.
“As machines get better at being machines, humans have to get better at being more human.”
This article explores why trust, compassion, and connection are now the true differentiators for leaders and teams in an age of AI and dispersed work.
In a world of AI and dispersed working, the leaders who thrive will be those who build trust, compassion and human connection.
Someone recently said to me, only half-jokingly: “Aren’t you worried all your work will be replaced by AI?”
It’s a fair question! There’s a lot of talk about using AI as your personal coach or turning to a Chatbot for leadership development. It’s a question many of us are asking ourselves.
There’s never been a more urgent need for leaders and teams to build human connection.
With many of us working at home some or all the time, I frequently work with teams that only get together in person once or twice a year. The rest of the time, we only communicate through screens.
We’re living through a time of extraordinary technological change. Artificial intelligence, automation, digital platforms, hybrid working promise speed, efficiency, and new opportunities. And yet, for many of the leaders and teams I work with, the lived experience is often the opposite: disconnection.
McKinsey’s recent research on the future of people management makes the point clearly: in a world of digital disruption and shifting expectations, traditional operating models no longer suffice. Leaders will need to focus less on process and more on people, building trust, compassion, and psychological safety, and creating personalised experiences that make work meaningful.
Technology isn’t the problem in itself. In fact, it frees up time and opens up possibilities. But unless we pay attention to what it means to “be more human,” they risk building organisations that are technically efficient but emotionally lacking.
Creating human connection sits at the heart of everything we do at Growth Space.
We need to remember we are all individual human beings, with lives, interests, passions and challenges outside work. And when we lose that perspective, it becomes harder to build trust, navigate conflict.
Humans have to get better at being more human.
“As machines get better at being machines, humans have to get better at being more human.”
Technology can bring efficiency and insight, but it can’t replace the human skills that make organisations thrive: empathy, emotional intelligence, and the ability to create real connections.
That sense of belonging is built in small, human moments.
Why leaders can’t outsource “the human stuff”
Leaders sometimes talk about well-being, culture, or engagement as if these belong to HR; the people team can be a partner, providing skills, tools, and insights, but they can’t do it all.
Every interaction we have (in meetings, informal chats, how you respond to pressure and the behaviour you reward or tolerate) shapes the culture your people experience. Leaders set the tone for workplaces where people feel valued, trusted, and inspired to grow.
The tone you set in a meeting.
The way you respond under pressure.
The behaviour you reward or tolerate.
What “being more human” looks like
So what does this actually mean in practice? It’s easy to say “be more human” - but in leadership, it comes down to creating the conditions where people feel safe, valued, and able to do their best work. That means:
Empathy and compassion: listening to understand, recognising how people are feeling, and responding with care.
Trust and psychological safety: showing up consistently so people know they can take risks, speak up, and be honest without fear of blame.
Emotional intelligence: being aware of your own impact and noticing what’s going on under the surface in the team.
Clarity and inspiration: helping people see the bigger picture, cutting through the noise, and connecting their effort back to purpose.
Courage and consistency: having the conversations that matter, even when they’re tough, and modelling the behaviours you expect from others.
What gets in the way
One of the biggest barriers I hear from leaders is time. “We’re too busy for this stuff.” But if you don’t make time for connection, though, you spend more time firefighting. Misunderstandings, conflicts, and disengagement all take longer to sort out than an honest, intentional conversation would have.
Why connection is the leadership differentiator:
The differentiator will be whether leaders can create organisations where people feel connected to their purpose, to each other, and to the work they do.
A team that talks honestly builds more trust in a day than in months of polite meetings.
A leader who listens deeply earns loyalty that no pay rise can buy.
An organisation that lives its values consistently wins both hearts and results.
Connection isn’t fluffy. It’s strategic. It’s the foundation of execution, innovation, and growth.
So I’m not worried about being replaced by an AI coach. Coaching, Facilitating, Culture Transformation and Team effectiveness, leadership aren’t done by AI . They’re about sitting down together (or even walking together), building trust, asking the right questions, holding space for reflection, and challenging people to grow.
Do you need support to build a more connected workplace?
At Growth Space, we work with leadership teams to create alignment around strategy, helping them clarify their story, build trust, and energise their people through team diagnostics, facilitation, and team coaching.
If you’d like to explore how I could support your team, get in touch
Email: hello@growth-space.co.uk or call 07966 475195.
Do I need a Facilitator for my Away Day or Offsite?
Team away days, off-sites, leadership strategy, brand or culture workshops can be brilliant opportunities to reconnect, realign and refocus your people. But how do you make sure that they don’t feel like a waste of time and that you create meaningful impact and tangible results?
This article explores the benefits of using an external Facilitator to design and run your meeting.
Team away days, off-sites, leadership strategy sessions, brand or culture workshops can be brilliant opportunities to reconnect, realign, and refocus your people. Taking time away from everyday pressures and distractions is valuable, whether you're celebrating success, developing a new strategy, reviewing your brand or culture, or bringing teams together through growth, change or other challenges.
Today we tend to have less time for face-to-face time with colleagues, and it's all too easy to hide behind emails, Teams messages or at best a video call. So there's never been a more important time to bring people together in person to build that human-to-human connection.
But if you’re investing time and money in an off-site, you want more than just team bonding and pizza. You want to be sure that you'll achieve your objectives for the day and gain clarity, alignment, and tangible outcomes.
So, how do you make sure your Team Away Day, Offsite or Strategy Workshop is more than just a chat over a nice lunch that leads to more questions than answers?
When Meetings and Offsites Go Wrong
We’ve all sat in meetings that feel like a waste of time. We’ve all had discussions that get lost in detail or where a dominant voice or two takes over. Sometimes, the biggest blocker isn’t what’s on the agenda. It’s unspoken tension, competing priorities, or confusion about the direction.
According to research by Doodle (State of Meetings Report 20204), poorly organised meetings cost companies over £400 billion globally in lost productivity. Meetings without purpose leave people frustrated and disengaged, and that’s before you factor in travel, venue hire, and time away from the day job.
Usually, that's not because the intentions aren’t right, but because the meeting lacked structure, safety, and focus.
Facilitators Make Things Easy
Of course, you could run the session yourself. But bringing in an experienced facilitator makes everything easier - by definition - Facilitation comes from the Latin "Facilis", meaning easy.
Our job is not just to set the agenda and manage the logistics, we are there to create a safe space where all voices can be heard and the gathering feels inclusive. We'll work with you to design an effective way to structure the agenda, and that will deliver clear outcomes and results.
Here’s why working with a professional facilitator to design and run your off-site is worth every penny.
Clarity of Purpose
Faciliators help you get crystal clear on why you’re bringing people together. Not just the logistics, but the objectives and desired outcomes. What do you want people to think, feel or do differently by the end of the session? We then design around that.Objectivity and Neutrality
Facilitators are completely independent and bring a fresh perspective and challenge the status quo. We encourage creative and critical thinking that leads to new ways of thinking, rather than being stuck in the 'that's just how we've always done it' mindset.Facilitators are trained to spot what's lurking under the surface - the elephant in the room - and create a safe and gentle space for honest conversation.
Equal Voices
Facilitators make sure everyone’s voice is heard, not just the louder voices in the room. We create a safe space and Psychological Safety where people feel more comfortable being honest especially when difficult topics come up.We build trust, ownership and better outcomes. We manage the energy in the room and design inclusive activities to engage everyone.
Structure with Flexibility
We create bespoke agendas that flow naturally with the right mix of structure and space and we keep things on track so the group doesn’t get lost in circular conversations or lost down rabbit holes. That means your day is purposeful but not rigid. If the energy shifts, we adapt in the moment.Follow-through & Accountability
A good facilitator doesn’t just spark good conversations, we help translate those into decisions, actions and next steps. So your day doesn’t end with vague intentions but with clear actions and SMART goals that have clear ownership, timeframes and accountability.You Get to Join In
When you’re managing or chairing the session, it's difficult to fully participate and contribute when you're trying to listen to everyone, take notes and watch the clock. As facilitators, we hold the space so you can step back, contribute, and connect with your team, instead of worrying about timings or post-it notes.Navigating Conflict
Facilitators manage conflict constructively – allowing disagreements to be aired and explored without derailing the session.
When to Use a Facilitator
Facilitated Culture Workshop
A well-designed off-site can help you:
Developing or launching a new vision, brand or strategy
Clarify your goals and direction
Define or reconnect with your purpose, culture, values and behaviours
Navigating change or restructuring
Building stronger cross-functional collaboration
Boosting team morale and motivation
Planning for growth or setting ambitious goals
Breaking down silos and strengthen trust and team dynamics
Supporting new leadership or team dynamics
Inspire fresh thinking and motivation
Why It Matters More Now
The way we work has changed – and so has what people need from time together.
“In the age of hybrid work, face-to-face time is no longer default – it’s a strategy. Teams that use it well gain a huge edge in trust, creativity, and performance.”
Ready to make your next team off-site meaningful, motivating and memorable?
Whether you’re planning a leadership strategy day, team away-day, or any other workshop, I’ll help you design and facilitate a session that delivers real outcomes and brings your people together with purpose and produces tangible results.
We're human so we like to chat on Teams or Zoom (or better still in person), so if you have ideas, plans or challenges you think could be resolved by getting people togeher in the same room, let's chat!
Give me a call on 07966 475195.
Book a time to speak on Zoom straight into my diary - Calendly >
Read more about Growth Space Bespoke Workshops & Facilitation >
Planning an Offsite or Away Day? Start With These 10 Questions >
Don't just take my word for it!
Polly is a superb facilitator - warm and approachable but with enough firmness to keep a very dynamic session on track. She clearly has deep listening skills and can help uncover meaning and trends where they may otherwise go unnoticed. I highly reccomend Polly for any facilitation needs, specifically in the workplace values space - she is brilliant."
