Insights from the Work

Observations, reflections, and practical guidance on leadership, organizational effectiveness, and the human experience of work.

Leadership is human work.

How we lead is shaped by how we relate to being human.

At StartHuman, we believe leadership effectiveness requires developing more conscious relationships with three fundamental aspects of the human experience: power, fear, and vulnerability.

We call this The StartHuman Way™.

Three invitations to lead with greater awareness, compassion, and choice:

  • Stand in Service™: Choose commitment over compliance.

  • Befriend Fear™: Choose presence over protection.

  • Sit in the Fire™: Choose integrity over relief.

Here, we explore the human side of leadership effectiveness—the patterns, choices, and everyday behaviors that shape our relationships, our impact, and the cultures we create.

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Navigating the Feedback Dilemma: Giving Candid Feedback
Amber Barnes Amber Barnes

Navigating the Feedback Dilemma: Giving Candid Feedback

Discover the transformative power of specific feedback in the world of business leadership. Explore how candid communication with your managers can pave the way for clearer guidance, stronger collaboration, and a more fulfilling leadership experience. Join us as we navigate the feedback dilemma and humanize the art of leadership.

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Three Pitfalls in Workplace Communication (and How to Avoid Them)
Amber Barnes Amber Barnes

Three Pitfalls in Workplace Communication (and How to Avoid Them)

You’d think with all the talking and texting that we do on a daily basis, we’d be pretty good at communicating with each other. But the truth is, most of us never actually learned how to communicate and many of us have picked up some pretty bad habits along the way.

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