Earlier in my career, I worked in a large organization under two very different leaders.
One leader knew my name. They asked how my kids were doing—and not in a generic way. They knew my children by name. They remembered details. They saw me as a person, not just a role.
The other leader? In five years, I saw them maybe five times. They knew nothing about me. No family. No story. No context. I was a number attached to a form letter, disconnected from any real sense of purpose or strategic vision.
The difference in how I felt was profound.
When Life Happens, Connection Matters
During that time of the second leader, I experienced a major personal health issue. The only conversations with leadership, I had were transactional check-ins from HR, driven entirely by paperwork and policy.
There was no human connection. No sense that leadership noticed or cared.
Had that second leader been more connected—had they known my name, my family, my story—I would have felt more supported, more committed, and far less likely to consider other employment options when my health changed.
People don’t leave jobs. They leave environments where they feel unseen.
Why This Matters for Retention and Culture
When employees feel known, they feel safe. When they feel safe, they are more engaged, more loyal, and more resilient during hard seasons.
Knowing names:
- Builds trust
- Creates empathy
- Strengthens communication
- Improves retention
- Humanizes leadership
This applies just as strongly to customers. People do business with those who recognize them, remember them, and treat them as individuals rather than transactions.
The Real Purpose of the Holiday Party
So yes—host the party. Serve the food. Hand out the prizes.
But don’t miss the real opportunity.
- Walk the room
- Learn names
- Meet partners.
- Ask what they do.
- Find out who’s growing their family.
Listen more than you talk.
Those conversations cost nothing—but they pay dividends all year long.
And it just might be the difference between an employee who stays—and one who quietly starts looking elsewhere.
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