This past weekend, I attended a community retreat on the North Carolina shore.
While we came together around a common thread, the group held real diversity. We spanned generations, family constellations, interests, worldviews, professional paths, and life experiences.
What stood out most was our shared commitment to be present, to engage, and to get to know one another beyond surface-level exchanges. There was a collective intention to ensure that each person felt seen, included, and connected.
That intention showed up in unexpected ways. I reconnected with a professor (now retired) I hadn’t spoken with in 35 years. I found myself in conversation with a college student about the growing lack of nuance in the world. And I sat with someone I had just met as they shared a personal experience that still impacts how they move through life today.
As a closing activity, I facilitated restorative circles to help us reflect on our past experiences, increase our understanding of one another, and deepen our sense of community. We shared honestly. We listened carefully. And we discovered meaningful connections and common ground, even when our perspectives didn’t fully align.
On the drive home, I found myself wondering: What might our workplaces look like if we embedded this level of authenticity, openness, and commitment to human connection?
What if we agreed that difference wasn’t a problem to solve and instead was an opportunity for insight and growth?
What if we slowed down enough to learn who people actually are, rather than assuming we already know and then acting based on those assumptions?
With intention, we can turn that aspiration into reality.
We can create workplaces in which people move beyond surface-level information and demographics to learn more about our colleagues. We can explore different perspectives to understand the humans behind them. And we can value each individual and their unique experiences.
After all, human connection isn’t just a “nice to have;” it’s what makes collaboration, trust, innovation, and navigating challenges possible.
It starts with curiosity, a willingness to travel outside our comfort zones, and a commitment to truly listen.
The question isn’t whether this kind of workplace is possible. It’s whether we’re willing to do the slower, sometimes harder, and more intentional work required to create it.