StartHuman

10/12/2025

As leaders, we often talk about purpose, impact, and resilience—but we don’t always talk about the personal cost of overachievement or the courage it takes to lead from wholeness rather than worthiness.

My friend and fellow Conscious Leadership alum, .chen has written a breathtaking memoir called Like a Wave We Break. It’s the story of a woman who built a world-changing company—and then faced the unraveling of everything she thought defined her.
Jane’s story is a mirror for so many of us who’ve chased impact while quietly burning out. She invites us to explore what it really means to live and lead from authenticity, presence, and truth.

I couldn’t be prouder of her vulnerability and her voice. This is a book for anyone walking the path of conscious leadership and personal transformation. 🌊

06/27/2025

A 360 feedback process is a powerful tool—but only when the soil is ready.

We often see leaders and HR teams use 360s with the best of intentions—but without the conditions in place for it to work.

It’s a practical, human-centered approach to a well-known tool, written for HR/OD/TM/L&D partners, executive coaches, and change leaders.

✍️ Blog: Is a 360 Right for Your Leader?
https://starthuman.substack.com/p/is-360-feedback-right-for-your-leader

360s Are Powerful—When the Soil Is Ready

06/13/2025

Quitting gets a bad rap.

But what if it’s not failure?

What if it’s… wisdom?

At StartHuman, we believe good leadership isn’t just about persistence — it’s about discernment. Knowing when to keep going, and when it’s time to walk away.

One of our favorite tools from Annie Duke’s Quit?
🛑 Kill criteria.
A way to decide — before things get charged or muddled — what signs would let you know it’s time to stop, shift, or pivot.

We’ve seen leaders use this to:
✔️ Prevent burnout
✔️ Make clearer strategic decisions
✔️ Align with evolving values

✨Quitting isn’t giving up.
It’s making space for what’s next.

New blog post from Amber on how quitting can be a leadership skill — and a deeply human one:

A reflection on Annie Duke’s book, “Quit: The Quiet Power of Knowing When to Walk Away”

06/06/2025

Real leadership isn’t about being served by others — it’s about serving them.

In Amber's latest blog, she dives into what to do when you have the thought "why aren't they just doing their job" — and what that reveals about how we lead.

Leadership is meeting people where they are — whether they’re learning, struggling, stuck, or crushing it.

If you care about leading with empathy and flexibility, this one’s for you.

Check it out and let’s keep growing together:

What to do when your team isn’t performing—and what that says about your leadership

06/02/2025

From our founder:
I’ve been sitting with a story. One that challenged me, cracked me open a bit, and helped me grow.

It started with a sentence that hit hard—and ended with a deeper connection, a stronger relationship, and a reminder of what it really means to lead from emotional intelligence and responsibility.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being human.

I shared the full story in my latest blog post (below).

https://starthuman.substack.com/p/what-if-we-stopped-taking-things?r=42c3ar

Let me know what you think, and if you've had a similar experience.

Why Emotional Intelligence and Responsibility Matter at Work

05/23/2025

There was a stretch of my life—personally and professionally—when I worked really hard to get it “right.”

Say the right thing. Do the right thing. Avoid triggering anyone.
Keep things calm. Keep people comfortable. Keep myself safe.

But here’s what I’ve learned: when we take responsibility for other people’s emotional states, we often lose connection with our own.

I wasn’t being kind. I was over-functioning.
I wasn’t being thoughtful. I was abandoning myself.

In this new blog post, I write about what it looks like to shift from "You triggered me" to I'm noticing something in me.

To stop outsourcing our safety—and start building it from within.
To choose presence over protection.
To take radical responsibility—not as a burden, but as a path back to self.

This is something we practice at StartHuman. It’s also something I’m practicing in real time.

If you’re curious about what this looks like in the workplace (and beyond), I’d love for you to read it:

How Radical Responsibility Builds Real Trust at Work

02/22/2025

Check out our latest blog post about creating the conditions for people to step into their power.

Creating the Conditions for Confidence, Ownership, and Meaningful Action

12/03/2024

Check out our latest blog about power dynamics.

How to Reclaim Your Power and Drive Culture Change from Any Role

11/27/2024

🚨 New Blog Post Alert! 🚨

If you’ve ever been part of a change initiative that started with excitement but fizzled out, you’re not alone. In my latest post, I dive into Ken Blanchard’s Who Killed Change?—a captivating murder mystery that uncovers why 70% of change efforts fail and, more importantly, what we can do to make sure they succeed.

This is the first in our Shelf to Self: Human-Centered Leadership Reads.

Ready to solve the mystery? Check out the full post below.

Shelf to Self: Human-Centered Leadership Reads

11/20/2024

In today’s workplaces, creating a culture where employees thrive isn’t just a pipe dream—it’s a necessity for trust, commitment, and long-term success.

This new blog post explores four foundational strategies leaders and HR professionals can use to foster clarity, consistency, and accountability while building a people-centered workplace:

1️⃣ Crafting a Culture Playbook to guide behaviors and principles.

2️⃣ Adopting a Partnering for Performance approach to accountability.

3️⃣ Designing Stellar Onboarding experiences that immerse new hires in your culture.

4️⃣ Investing in Ongoing Learning and Development to sustain growth and alignment.

💡 You can stop holding people accountable and learn how to set people up to take radical responsibility for an awesome workplace culture.

✨ Read the full post on StartHuman’s Substack to learn more and share your thoughts! ✨

https://open.substack.com/pub/starthuman/p/building-a-people-centered-workplace?r=42c3ar&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

11/11/2024

In every group setting, feedback can land in vastly different ways. What has one person feel empowered while another feels shame or judges it as shaming? The answer often lies in how we show up: are we reacting from past wounds, or responding with presence?

In our latest blog, Amber dives into how reactivity fuels shame and dis-empowerment, and how presence can transform the feedback experience. If you're navigating feedback, leadership, or challenging emotional moments, this post will help you unpack why our emotional responses matter—and how we can empower ourselves and others by choosing presence over reactivity.

https://open.substack.com/pub/starthuman/p/why-presence-matters-how-reactivity?r=42c3ar&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

11/03/2024

🌟 Language Matters: How HR Phrases Can Impact Workplace Culture 🌟

As a culture transformation facilitator, I’ve seen how the language we use in HR policies and practices can make or break an organization’s culture. While these policies aim to provide clarity, structure, and accountability, they can sometimes unintentionally erode empowerment and trust.

In my latest blog post, I dive into common HR phrases that may need a refresh and offer alternatives that prioritize people and connection. Phrases like “failure to comply” or “zero tolerance” can create a tone of caution and control, rather than collaboration and growth.

Here are a few examples of how we can reframe our language:

🔹 Instead of: “Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action.”
Try: “These guidelines are here to support everyone’s well-being. Let’s work together to create a safe, positive environment for all.”

🔹 Instead of: “Please be aware of our zero-tolerance policy.”
Try: “We’re committed to a respectful workplace where everyone feels empowered. Here’s how we can work together to uphold these values.”

These small shifts in language can help create a culture focused on trust, authenticity, and genuine connection. 💬✨

💡 Action Step: I encourage you to review your HR communications. Are your phrases building trust or creating barriers? Let’s work together to foster a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered.

👉 Check out the full blog post BELOW for more insights and tips.

HR Phrases That Can Damage Your Workplace Culture