Read. Be inspired. Go love.

Is it really possible to create a way of working based on love not fear? Yes. It’s not only possible. It’s essential. Learn more from this collection of more than 100 posts to inspire and guide you.

Leading with Empathy
Joanne Lee Joanne Lee

Leading with Empathy

Guest Writer, Joanne Lee shares practical steps for incorporating a lens of empathy into your daily professional and personal life. She urges readers to opt for empathy in pursuit of greater well-being.

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Emotions at work
Renée Smith Renée Smith

Emotions at work

When we experience an action, words, or event, it can bring on bio-chemical and physiological responses that are universal to humans. When we experience a stimulus that is threatening, exciting, hopeful, surprising, worrying, angering, envious, or joyful, our human bodies react consistently.

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Make meetings more human: the check-in
Renée Smith Renée Smith

Make meetings more human: the check-in

You’ve seen this happen, probably multiple times each day. A group of people come into a room and sit down around a table just before a meeting. Barely looking at each other, they might mumble a greeting but give their devices their full attention. When the appointed time arrives, they launch in to the agenda items and get to work.

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People are kind
Renée Smith Renée Smith

People are kind

Almost six months ago, I broke my ankle.  It was a serious injury, and I was told that I should not expect to return to normal for at least six months.  As I approach this healing milestone, I have been reflecting on my broken ankle experience.

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Through the eyes of Washingtonians
Renée Smith Renée Smith

Through the eyes of Washingtonians

Perhaps other customers in these scenarios might have been annoyed to waste time hearing about these experiences, but their stories inspired me. I listened with empathy and humility, and thanked them both for their help and time.

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Everywhere I go: on a train from Nice to Ventimiglia
Renée Smith Renée Smith

Everywhere I go: on a train from Nice to Ventimiglia

The 2nd class train from Nice, France, to Ventimiglia, Italy, is overflowing on this sunny weekday morning in September. Commuters heading to work mix with tourists like me on holiday. Luggage fills the aisles. Children sit on laps. Passengers stand in the vestibule between cars, sweaty and crowded.

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Why do we make the workplace so hard on ourselves?
Renée Smith Renée Smith

Why do we make the workplace so hard on ourselves?

Read the latest business news, research, or blogs, and talk with almost anyone who works, and you’ll hear the same themes: Struggles with disengagement, poor well-being, lack of diversity and inclusion, burnout, conflict, bullying and harassment, unethical behavior, poor performance, challenges to creativity, and lack of problem solving.

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Learning to weave in Olympia
Renée Smith Renée Smith

Learning to weave in Olympia

My last post described our need to weave together a stronger social fabric that both honors our common humanity and respects and values diversity. At A Human Workplace: Olympia on June 22, we took a first step by exploring and learning about empathy and diversity. Here’s what we did and what happened. But first, what seems most essential.

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Weaving our human tapestry
Renée Smith Renée Smith

Weaving our human tapestry

The fabric of our society feels threadbare. A tattered cloth with gaping holes, it barely drapes us nor does it display its full beauty. We wish it were different but we seem to have lost our ability to weave that tapestry. 

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Listening from the heart
Renée Smith Renée Smith

Listening from the heart

It’s hard to concentrate on writing tonight. You see, I’m excited…and nervous. Tomorrow morning more than eighty public servants are gathering from all over government to explore empathy and diversity at the June Human Workplace Meet Up in Olympia.

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A love story about work: caring for Cindy during cancer
Renée Smith Renée Smith

A love story about work: caring for Cindy during cancer

During these initial days after her diagnosis, Cindy’s leader and team were there for her in all kinds of practical ways. They helped her arrange transportation, fill out paperwork, and apply for FMLA. They helped her navigate it all. And as her situation unfolded, they continued to help.

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A love story about work: Carol's social services team
Renée Smith Renée Smith

A love story about work: Carol's social services team

Work in social services, and especially work in direct services to the most vulnerable people in society, is by its very nature a human endeavor. People often choose this field because they are compassionate and motivated to care for others. But social services can be some of the most physically and emotionally demanding work there is. 

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