Does Your Strategy Include Becoming a Human-Centered Organization?

As a LinkedIn Editorial Top Voice, thought leader, author, educator, strategy facilitator, and training practitioner, I write a weekly article that benefits existing or emerging leaders who want to improve their organizations significantly.

Do You Need to Be More Human-Centered?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic in every industry. Business leaders are salivating about the potential benefits of adopting this technology. They hope AI can be the answer to resolving the ongoing employment gap. They may have a revolving door of people entering and exiting employment with their company. At the same time, they likely are avoiding the need to build a human-centered organization.

“People may forget what you said or did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

How Do You Make People Feel?

I suspect you understand what Maya Angelou, an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist, means about how someone made you feel at some point in your career. Those I remember most are on two extremes. The first are the individuals who were great mentors and who always had my best interest as their priority. The second are those who used me for their benefit regardless of my harm. Just thinking about them brings some unresolved resentment to the surface. If we desire to be one of the first examples as leaders, then there is a need to be a human-centered organization.

What is a Human-Centered Organization?

The human-centered organization prioritizes people impacted by their company - employees, customers, shareholders, community members, and other stakeholders. They build the following essential elements into their organization:

• Adaptability and Agility—The organization uses human-centered design thinking to develop innovative and responsive solutions
• Collaboration and Teamwork—There is an emphasis on fostering a work environment where everyone is valued and allowed to share their voice in a team environment that embraces innovation and holistic solutions.
• Customer-centric:—The products and services provided are designed to provide an ideal customer experience, which includes actively seeking feedback to inform future decisions.
• Empathy—Leaders actively listen to their stakeholders to learn their concerns, needs, and motivations. They put themselves in their figurative shoes to see what is essential to those in their care.
• Employee Well-Being—The workforce's emotional, mental, and physical health is a priority. The workplace exhibits an environment of psychological safety, where everyone feels safe sharing ideas without fear of judgment or retaliation.
• Empowerment and Authority—The leadership trusts their employees by allowing them to approve ownership of their work and decision-making. There is also an opportunity for personal development and growth.
• Ethical and Responsible Practices—Decision-making focuses on building long-term trust and value for all stakeholders.
• Inclusive and Diverse Environment—The company creates a sense of belonging for all individuals regardless of background and develops systems to create equal opportunity for everyone.
• Technology as an Enabler—Technology enhances stakeholders' experiences by supporting human needs.
• Transparent Communication—Two-way communication is open and honest in all stakeholder interactions, and feedback is actively sought and used to make informed decisions.

These are a few other elements necessary to build a human-centered organization that will thrive in an ever-changing and challenging business environment.

Key Takeaways

Artificial intelligence and other technologies ought to enhance the well-being of an organization’s stakeholders. Thoughtful leaders will dedicate themselves to fostering a human-centered environment that supports everyone affected by the company. Such a human-centered organization will be most equipped to succeed in a constantly evolving and challenging business landscape.

First Step

Intelligent leaders will use the above list to assess if they are leading a human-centered organization. Companies that want to attract and retain high-caliber talent develop a purpose-driven culture that motivates their employees to be a part of a larger purpose in a human-centered company.

How I Can Help

Do you need help crafting strategies that empower your team, transform your operations, and build a sustainable future for your business? If so, please contact me to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward purposeful growth. Feel free to book an appointment, email me at [email protected], or call me at 734-664-9076 if you need help with my manufacturing support services, such as strategy training and facilitation.

Invite Others

If you find this newsletter helpful, please share it with those in your network who would benefit from subscribing. They can access it at Humanist Manufacturing. Thank you in advance for your continued support, which I greatly appreciate.

Additional Information

To learn more about our work or read more blog posts, visit emmanuelstratgicsustainability.com.

I encourage you to read my book Humanist Manufacturing: A Humanitarian Approach to Excellence in High-Impact Plant Operations. The paperback and eBook versions are now available at Amazon and many other booksellers. You can also watch the Humanist Manufacturing Book Launch video to gain additional insight into the humanist manufacturing framework.

Sign up for Strategy, Change Management, & Tactical Planning (Regularly $149 but $99 for a limited time). The course assists in the strategy development and planning necessary to move the company from the current state to a more human-centered future state operation. The course participant learns how to shift conversations from a deficit to a strengths-based approach essential to drive the beneficial change required to achieve transformational organizational results. The content provides guidance to utilize the SOAR framework for strategy development, the work to develop tactical plans, and the elements of a successful change management initiative.

If you like what you have read, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn. I am honored and humbled for this recognition as a LinkedIn Editorial Top Voice, an invitation-only group featuring senior-level experts and leaders. Less than 0.5% of LinkedIn members receive this invitation, which is 1 billion LinkedIn members.

See my virtual TEDx videos at Reinventing the Prison Industrial Complex and Humanist Manufacturing.

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