Core: The Human Factor

The Human Factor explores what it means to be people-first in a world that often forgets we’re only human.

This section is about burnout, motivation, emotion, behavior, growth, and everything messy, beautiful, and unpredictable about what makes us, us.

We write for leaders and readers who understand that getting the human stuff right is the real work.

Some of the things we cover in The Human Factor…

• Emotional labor & workplace dynamics
• Burnout, resilience, and recovery
• Feedback, conflict, and coaching
• Empathy, vulnerability & self-awareness
• Growth and change, whatever the age or stage

The Human Factor: Knowing Ourselves, Understanding Each Other

At the heart of every policy, every argument, every act of leadership or failure… there is a person. The Human Factor is our recognition that behind every system, every story, and every success or shortfall lies the intricate, unpredictable mechanics of the human mind.

People are behind every challenge we face, however, they also hold the key to every solution. That makes understanding why we think, act, and react the way we do not just interesting, but absolutely essential.

Things like why we resist doing what we know we should. Or what prevents us from taking action even when the path is clear? It is our humanity that makes us complex, fallible, and at times, very irrational. After centuries of philosophy, science, and psychology, we’ve got a fairly healthy grasp on the understanding of what drives us (or at least many very good theories). But in terms of applying this knowledge to our everyday lives, we tend to be woefully illiterate.

Yet, we are also capable of remarkable clarity, empathy, and growth. But it requires something difficult: stepping outside of normal train of thought. To honestly appreciate and understand a situation, we need to learn how to observe it with as little bias or self-interest as possible. We have to go beyond “how does this affect me?”. It’s essential to consider “how does this affect others?” and consider what the broader repercussions of the choice will be.

Of course, removing ourselves from our own perspective is no easy task, our deeply ingrained self-preservation means that we’re inherently biased, emotional creatures. But at least attempting to rise above our instincts is the first step towards reason. It’s the place where we start to recognize the patterns, drives, and fears that unite us.

The more you understand yourself… your triggers, your motivations, your blind spots; the more you begin to see those same drives in others. While the subjects of our drives may differ, the engine is typically the same. And when you equip yourself with this understanding, you gain more than just insight into the world. You gain compassion, accountability, and a stronger moral compass to use in your decision making.

In The Human Factor, we seek to explore these mechanics of our minds. This messy, yet beautiful, psychology is what underpins all of our decision-making, ethics, relationships, and leadership. And if we can manage to better understand what makes us tick, we can lead better, live better, and ultimately, stop making choices that are based exclusively on instinct, but perhaps a bit of wisdom as well.