When the CEO held a virtual town hall in 2020 and said there needed to be layoffs, I knew I would be one of the first to go because I served zero purpose at that point.
The leader who hasn't examined their own fears, assumptions, and blind spots will inevitably project those shadows onto their teams. Inner work enables outer connection. This ancient wisdom has never been more urgent. Here's an irony worth sitting with: the more AI dominates our workplaces, the more desperately we crave authentic human connection.
Around the office, people clutch coffee like a life raft, waiting for their brains to come online and cursing the 8 a.m. meeting. And the cheerful colleague. But at least they got in early enough to find parking and grab coffee before it ran out-this time. Now: which person are you? The early riser, or the one watching them, wondering why you can never feel that awake at this hour no matter how hard you try?
Just because someone is highly qualified, great at what they do and has impressive experience, doesn't mean they are a good fit for your organization or your culture. If you want your business to thrive in the marketplace, you need to filter out potential employees who may not be a great fit for your organization and attract those who are the most likely to thrive.
Like you, I enjoy the finer things in life: sourdough bread, a smooth flat white, and an omelet with kimchi. I like traveling with my dog, staying somewhere nice, and - last but not least - keeping my EU visa valid. All of this costs money. To have and enjoy the good things in life, I need a full-time job (I say this with a heart that isn't exactly light). That means looking for one - and interviews are certainly the worst part of this.