Episode recap:

Marcel discussed his new book, Humane Leadership, which emphasizes the importance of expressing actionable love in the workplace and the need for leaders to care for their employees. He also emphasized the importance of continuous learning and growth in leadership, as well as the necessity of developing people skills to achieve business success. Marcel also mentioned that he is offering bonus content, including chapters 3 and 4, on his Substack platform. Go to Marcelschwantes.substack.com and access the Humane Leadership tab for the bonus content.

Bio:

Marcel Schwantes is a speaker, author, and acclaimed executive coach with a global following. Marcel delivers presentations, workshops, courses, and coaching programs about the human side of business and how cultures of care, connection, and belonging power companies to thrive and outperform the competition.

In the workplace, this truth is often overlooked. But as Marcel Schwantes explains, truly effective leadership is rooted in love—practically demonstrated to achieve business success and create lasting impact.

Quotes

Key Takeaways

• Reflect: Are you viewing your team as people—with hopes and fears—or simply as tools to hit business goals?
• Practice agape love: Show loyalty, commitment, and genuine care for your team’s growth, not just their performance.
• Build meaningful connections: Move from transactional interactions to real relationships built on trust and respect.
• Shift your leadership style: Embrace a people-centered mindset instead of a results-only approach.
• Take one small action today: Listen deeply, offer support, or recognize someone’s contribution—beyond the job title.

Timestamps

• [00:03] What Humane Leadership Really Looks Like
• [01:58] Why Love Isn’t “Soft” in the Workplace
• [03:19] Seeing People, Not Just Headcount
• [06:44] How Love Gets Misunderstood in Business
• [09:07] Agape Leadership in Real Life

Conclusion

Great workplaces aren’t built on pressure—they’re built on people.
When leaders act with kindness and put people first, they create environments where teams feel safe, motivated, and empowered. Leadership is not about control; it’s about helping others grow. When employees feel genuinely valued, the business thrives too.

Resources

• 📘 Book: Humane Leadership
• ✍️ Substack: marcelschwantes.substack.com
• 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes
• 🐦 X/Twitter: @MarcelSchwantes
• 📺 YouTube: @MarcelSchwantes1
• 📸 Instagram: @marcel.schwante

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Pre-order Marcel’s new book:

Episode recap:

Humane Leadership: 5 Key Principles

Marcel discussed his new book, Humane Leadership, which explores the connection between agape and effective leadership. He shared excerpts from the book, focusing on the 5 principles of humane leadership: patience, kindness, humility, advocacy, and trustworthiness. Marcel emphasized that these principles, rooted in science and best practices, can lead to a more productive and profitable workplace. He also highlighted the importance of understanding human needs and mastering people skills for effective leadership. The book is available for purchase.

Bio:

Marcel Schwantes is a speaker, author, and acclaimed executive coach with a global following. Marcel delivers presentations, workshops, courses, and coaching programs about the human side of business and how cultures of care, connection, and belonging power companies to thrive and outperform the competition.

Key Quotes:

• "Effective leadership is love practically demonstrated to achieve business success."
• "Humans are biologically wired to connect relationally and to feel they matter."
• "Leadership effectiveness comes from demonstrating love through action."
  

Takeaways:

• Implement patience, kindness, humility, advocacy, and trustworthiness in your leadership style.
• Embrace the human side of leadership to foster better engagement and productivity.
• Leadership must evolve to meet the emotional and relational needs of today’s workforce.
  

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction to Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss

[01:15] Marcel’s journey in writing the book
[02:30] The five principles of humane leadership
[03:45] Applying these principles to modern leadership
[04:50] Embracing emotional connection in remote work
[06:00] Final thoughts on leading with love

Conclusion:

Humane leadership focuses on understanding and meeting human needs, which can drive better business outcomes. Marcel Schwantes’ insights help leaders create environments where employees feel valued, leading to higher engagement, loyalty, and success.

Links/Resources:

Substack: marcelschwantes.substack.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/

Twitter/X: x.com/MarcelSchwantes

YouTube: youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1

Instagram: instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

Send Marcel a text message!

Pre-order Marcel’s new book: Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-ass Boss

Episode recap:

Marcel and David Bator of Achievers Workforce Institute discussed the importance of humane leadership and creating a sustainable work culture, emphasizing the need for employee engagement and a sense of belonging in the workplace. They explored strategies for improving workplace conditions, including frequent recognition, effective management practices, and implementing regular feedback methods. David also highlights four key factors for manager effectiveness: frequent contact, recognition, coaching, and career development. He suggests that companies should move beyond annual surveys and implement more frequent feedback methods such as one-on-ones, pulse surveys, and recognition programs. David also introduced the concept of the "5 pillars of belonging," which include feeling welcomed, known, included, supported, and connected at work. He stressed that investing in these conditions not only makes employees feel good but also drives business outcomes.

Bio:

David Bator is the Managing Director at Achievers Workforce Institute. He thinks and writes about how work should work. His primary focus in leading the Achievers Workforce Institute is Research, Community, and Advisory, assisting global executives with practical approaches to transforming how the world works. David is passionate about people and has spent the last 20 years collaborating closely with leaders in HR, IT, and Communications to develop programs that empower individuals, teams, and companies to grow.

Quotes:

• "What gets recognized gets repeated. 72% of employees will repeat an action if they are recognized for that action."
• "Employees with a strong sense of belonging are twice as engaged, twice as productive, twice more resilient, and twice more satisfied with their jobs."

Takeaways:

• Evaluate your workplace across the five pillars of belonging: Are employees feeling welcomed, known, included, supported, and connected? Create specific strategies to improve each dimension.
• Start a consistent habit of recognizing team members for their big and small contributions. Aim to provide meaningful, specific appreciation at least once daily and track how it impacts team morale and engagement.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction to Marcel’s new book, Humane Leadership, and his guest, David Bator

[03:05] David’s passion for helping people through his work

[07:34] "The Great Resignation" and "The Great Detachment" and their implications for the current state of the workplace

[12:14] The Importance of Belonging and Employee Experience

[17:02] Strategies for Improving Employee Engagement

[25:33] Non-Monetary Strategies for Driving Engagement

[29:20] Leading with Humane Leadership

[35:50] The Role of Recognition in Shaping Culture

Conclusion:

Creating a culture of belonging, appreciation, and recognition boosts employee engagement, productivity, and retention. Leaders who make employees feel welcomed, known, included, supported, and connected drive positive outcomes. Regular non-monetary recognition and meaningful one-on-ones help employees feel valued and motivated to bring their best selves to work.

Links/Resources:

Achievers: https://www.achievers.com/

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