Being Human in the Workspace

Human First: Would Your Loved Ones Be Proud of How You Treat Others at Work?

Picture this: if your family, your best friend, or even your child could watch a month’s worth of your behaviour at work—every conversation, every decision, every interaction—would they be proud of you? Would you be proud of yourself?

It’s a question that’s uncomfortable but important. Because beneath all the job titles, KPIs, and career ambitions, we’re human first. And how we treat people—especially in the workplace—leaves a mark that lasts far longer than any deadline we meet or project we finish.

Are We Forgetting to Be Human at Work?

In the rush to "get things done," it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters. A snappy email, a dismissive comment in a meeting, excluding someone from a decision that impacts them—it happens more often than we care to admit.

But let’s be honest. Corporate bullying—because that’s what these behaviours often are—doesn’t look so different from the behaviours we teach children to avoid on the playground. We tell them to be kind, include others, and treat everyone with respect. So why do those lessons seem to evaporate when we step into an office?

The Weight We Carry Home

A toxic workplace doesn’t just stay at work. It spills over into people’s lives—the anxiety they feel before Monday morning meetings, the stress they carry home after being spoken to unfairly, or the self-doubt that lingers after being excluded or undermined. These are heavy burdens, and often, they’re entirely avoidable.

Being "human first" is about recognizing that work comes second to the simple decency of treating people well. It’s not just about kindness—it’s about fairness, inclusion, and creating spaces where everyone feels safe to be themselves.

What Does Being Human First Look Like?

• Fairness: Are you making decisions transparently? Are you giving credit where it’s due? Fairness isn’t about equality; it’s about equity—making sure everyone has what they need to thrive.
• Kindness: Small acts make a difference—a genuine "thank you," a word of encouragement, or simply listening without interruption. These moments of kindness create a ripple effect.
• Safety: Do people feel comfortable around you? Do they feel respected, valued, and free to speak up? Safety isn’t just physical; it’s emotional and social too.

The Question That Grounds Us

It all comes back to that highlight reel. If your loved ones could see how you handle a disagreement at work, how you treat the intern, or how you respond to a stressed colleague, what would they think?Would they see the person they admire—the one who teaches kindness and fairness at home? Or someone they wouldn’t quite recognise?
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Work Comes Second.

The truth is, no deliverable or deal is more important than the people involved. At the end of the day, your legacy at work won’t be about the awards or accolades; it’ll be about how you made others feel.So, as you go about your day, keep this in mind: you’re human first, employee second. And when you start prioritizing the person before the professional, everything else—collaboration, trust, success—naturally falls into place.Let’s create workplaces where fairness, kindness, and safety are non-negotiable. Because when we take care of the human side, the rest will follow.Would your loved ones be proud of how you treat others? Let’s make sure the answer is yes.