This Wiley publication features contributions from over 30 leading management thinkers from the Thinkers50 community on what it is to be human and connect with other humans in today’s society. It serves as a practical guide for leaders and managers to improve work and well-being and provides a human-centric approach to a fast-evolving and shifting nature of work.

Susie Kennedy’s chapter, “How to Build Your Human Touch”, explains that positive connections to others are crucial for good physical and mental health. Poor relationships are associated with higher mortality rates, poor health, and unhappy lives. In these uncertain and turbulent times, successful leadership in the workplace requires the human touch – the ability to treat others in a personable and empathetic way, helping them feel connected and valued. I explore why leaders should invest in developing their human touch, what gets in their way, and practical ways to build this critical leadership trait.