The relentless pursuit of efficiency has created a curious paradox in modern organizations. While we've mastered the art of measuring outputs, optimizing processes, and maximizing quarterly returns, we've inadvertently muted the very qualities that make leadership truly transformative. The humanistic elements—curiosity, compassion, creativity and genuine care for people's flourishing—have been relegated to the margins, dismissed as soft skills in a hard-numbers world.

Yet artificial intelligence, the technology many fear will dehumanize work entirely, may be our greatest opportunity to reclaim what we've lost. The current AI revolution isn't just about effectiveness and economic gains; it's an invitation to confront the white elephant in every boardroom: what does it actually mean to be human, and humane, in our approach to leadership and organizational design?

Great leadership has always operated on two levels, the visible mechanics of strategy and execution, and the underlying melody that gives it meaning. This melody encompasses the intuitive understanding of human motivation, the ability to inspire purpose beyond profit, and the wisdom to make decisions that serve both immediate needs and long-term flourishing. The aim of humanistic leadership is to place people over profit to make business more sustainable, recognizing that sustainable success emerges from this deeper foundation.

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