Tag: humanity

Being More Human (10-7-26)

This is a one-off entry inspired by a dinner conversation I had with folks about the idea of being more human.

I attended an insights conference this week.  Last night, during dinner I was mingling with some other like-minded insights professionals.  Eventually the conversation turned to what we would write a book about.  One of the individuals said they would write a book about being more human.

The group began to dissect the various layers of this idea.  We talked about a world obsessed with technology, AI, and automation and how easy it is to forget the human in the loop.  We talked about how the world is changing and moving faster than ever before, and how humans weren’t designed to keep up with this.  We also talked about the evolution of work and the pressures to keep emotions and individuality in check to fit a broader culture.  It’s an idea worth exploring.

Let’s connect some dots.  I don’t know what your experience is.  I’ll say that work is hard right now.  There is uncertainty, change, looming deadlines, and so much pressure.  I don’t know about you, but I think we could all benefit from being more human.  In a world obsessed with tech, we can remember that we are humans and not machines.  In a world that pressures us to not have or show emotions, we can be more human and allow ourselves to feel the spectrum of emotions as we deal with all of this.  We can give ourselves permission to feel sadness, anger, hope, and more without feeling a need to apologize for having emotions.  In a world so focused on speed, we can be more human and be brave enough to try to connect with someone in a moment of vulnerability, even if it’s just to let them know you’re there for them.  In a world of tough decisions, we can be the type of leaders who connect as humans through the pain and difficulty.

The challenge: What will you do to be more human today?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry

The Magic of Vulnerability (9-16-26)

Last week we kicked off a series focused on things that inspired me during our insights summit.  We focused on learning how to solve problems like a magician.  This week, we will look at the magic of vulnerability. (See how smooth that transition was 😉)

Prentice Stovall is a Sr VP in Immunology, and one of the leaders who spoke during our conference.  He had a fireside chat moderated by Bob Draper, Immunology Market Research leader.  During the chat, Prentice shared all kinds of nuggets that filled my cup as an insights professional.  He talked about how our insights organization has the ability to influence all of Lilly.  He discussed the importance of integrated insights across data and teams, so we don’t send the business in the wrong direction.  He shared how our judgment and ability to tell stories with data are critical to the success of the organization.  I was definitely feeling the love.

He was also vulnerable in a way that made those points resonate more.  Prentice talked about how his time working in market research has shaped a lot of how he operates.  The questions he asks, the way he thinks about data, all of this was shaped by his time in research.  He took this further and shared a story of being early in his career and he received feedback along the lines of, “Prentice, you seem to find a way to make data even more complex.”  He talked about how he had to work on this skill and how he approaches things now.  When he admitted this out loud, the entire audience chuckled, because we all had been there and made the exact same mistake.  We also smiled, because this tale of his showcased how this storytelling skill he values so much, isn’t always easy.  Having a CMO share a moment like this wasn’t on my bingo card for the day, but it made everything else he said that much more powerful and that much more human.

Let’s connect some dots.  When was the last time you saw a leader be vulnerable and human about something?  What impact did that have on you?  When was the last time YOU were vulnerable and human about something?  What impact did that have on you and the people you work with?

In a world of AI and emerging technologies, I believe we are all looking for something or someone a little more human.  We are looking for the connection.  We are looking for the person who can talk about a failure with a smile, because we’ve all been there.  We don’t have to look for these people.  We can BE these people.  Whether you’re a leader on stage or with colleagues, you have the chance to show something real.

The challenge: How will you model vulnerability and authenticity?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry