From Day One | Stories

Building Connections, Shaping Culture: Elevating the Employee Experience

“The equation seems to be: happy employees equals higher productivity, efficiency, low turnover, higher retention, and more profit,” said Mihae Ahn, VP of marketing at LineZero.Undoubtedly, the employee experience and the customer experience are interconnected. Organizations with engaged workers perform 147% more effectively than their competitors and see a higher ROI.What is the key to organizations creating happier and highly engaged employees? Communal support, Ahn says. “When we feel connected to others in our lives, we are happier. When we are connected to our colleagues at work, we are happier at work,” she said during a thought leadership spotlight at From Day One’s Washington, D.C. conference. Indeed, Forbes underscores how there is a “highly emotional component” to keeping employees happy and fully engaged. Employees desire to be recognized, heard, respected, supported, and valued. HR leaders recognize the importance of supporting the humane component of organizational success. Investing in the employee experience is now a top priority, as disengaged employees can threaten a company’s success. In today’s hybrid workplaces, leaders must foster inclusive cultures that support a multigenerational workforce with diverse skill sets.“How do we make sure that our people feel connected, and they feel like they are part of a community where two-way engagement dialogs happen?” Surprisingly, or, perhaps as expected with the rise of AI, technology is a powerful tool to bridge communication, cultural, and skill gaps in modern-day workplaces. Instead of further stripping away humanity in the workplace, newer technology can create more inclusivity and interconnectedness. Companies investing in the digital employee experience, in particular, are also driven to integrate the latest platforms, software, and tools to enhance their competitiveness, says Ahn. A Digital Employee Experience Hub Ahn emphasized that building genuine community support and connections in the workplace is key to enhancing the employee experience. LineZero is an employee experience and change management consulting company that partners with top digital platforms to help clients strengthen internal communication, assess data, and create engaging company cultures.LineZero consultants are adamant about ensuring that the digital employee experience tool they suggest to clients leads to the desired business outcomes and justifies the buy-in. “We have a deep understanding of whatever tool, whatever technology that you propose and present to your business. It has to have a very clear purpose. It should not be redundant. It has to be cost-efficient,” said Ahn.For example, such new technology helps objectively filter employee data, enhances communication, introduces new ways of gathering and providing reviews and feedback via online forums and channels, and helps managers and team leaders directly support employees in their unique professional journeys.Hence, digital employee experience tools are vital for internal communication among frontline, remote, and hybrid workers. Many organizations achieve considerable success using AI-powered digital tools and platforms.Ahn references Workvivo by Zoom as an effective digital employee experience hub. Workvivo integrates engagement by awards, surveys, and employee recognition programs; internal communications using online chat, podcasts, live streams, and smart activity feeds; and employee listening using advanced analytics and data-driven employee insights.The Necessity of Human Connection The necessity of human connection is ancient, Ahn says. Belonging to a group as hunter-gatherers strengthened the likelihood of human survival because of communal support.On the other hand, social isolation lowered a person’s chances of survival because of a fundamental lack of support. Therefore, the body still perceives isolation or ostracization as a threat. The sympathetic nervous system activates under those threats to help us cope with any immediate danger.Today, this weakens decision-making and critical thinking, increases anxiety and depression, and ultimately reduces employee engagement, efficiency, and motivation in the workplace.“Yes, a lack of sense of belonging can create all these negative consequences,” said Ahn. “But when we do a good job creating a sense of belonging, then the many benefits come out of it.”Editor’s note: From Day One thanks our partner, LineZero, for sponsoring this thought leadership spotlight. Stephanie Reed is a freelance news, marketing, and content writer. Much of her work features small business owners throughout diverse industries. She is passionate about promoting small, ethical, and eco-conscious businesses.(Photo by Justin Feltman for From Day One)

Sponsor Spotlight BY Christopher O'Keeffe | March 12, 2025

Empathy Isn't Programmable: Building a Human-Centric Workplace

When Rob Thompson, executive director at Birkman called up a hotel recently, he had a simple request for the concierge named Andrew: directions to self-parking. After following Andrew's instructions only to find the garage closed, Thompson then posed an unexpected question to the concierge, “Andrew, can you love someone more than you love yourself?”“That’s a uniquely human experience,” replied Andrew, confirming Thompson’s suspicions. He was speaking with an artificial intelligence agent so convincing that most callers wouldn’t be able to distinguish it from a human employee.In the rush to adopt artificial intelligence, companies are increasingly blurring the line between AI capability and human understanding. While AI tools demonstrate impressive abilities to analyze data and mimic human interaction, they fundamentally lack the experiential awareness that defines human emotion and feeling. “This is really the introduction of one of your new peers, someone that you may be working with day in and day out,” said Thompson during a thought leadership spotlight at From Day One’s Houston conference. At Birkman, a company specializing in behavioral assessment tools used by Fortune 500 companies to improve team dynamics, Thompson has observed the rapid integration of AI across corporations. He spoke about how we got here, and what we can do to create a more human-centric environment.As AI use increases, Thompson says that leaders must counterbalance this technological revolution by doubling down on human-centered management approaches; a perspective gaining traction among workplace strategists navigating rapid AI transformation. “We have two choices. One is we have to embrace AI, that train has left the station. The other piece is improving the employee experience with AI,” he said. “As my mom used to tell me, ‘Robert, control what you can control.’”There are five key trends reshaping today's workplace: AI tools replacing human interactions; a surge in early retirements following the pandemic; significant workforce shrinkage amid declining birth rates; younger employees prioritizing purpose over paychecks; and companies recognizing that strong cultures drive financial results, says Thompson.This convergence of trends has companies racing to retain talent while balancing technological efficiency with human needs. His approach marks a sharp break from traditional management philosophies that treat employees as data points. “I cringe whenever a leader says to me, ‘We have 10,000 employees, we have to reduce our head count by 500 FTEs,’” he said, referring to full-time equivalents. “They are just a number on the page. That is how a lot of companies view employees,” he said. Birkman’s methodology, says Thompson, takes a holistic view, assessing workers across four dimensions—physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual. This "whole person" approach uncovers behavioral patterns, stress responses, and the conditions that enable employees to thrive. He pointed to his own team as an example of complementary behavioral styles working in harmony. One colleague shows care through attentive listening, another through casual banter, and a third by maintaining organizational alignment.Rob Thompson of Birkman International led the thought leadership spoltight titled, "Empowering Tomorrow: Building a Human-Centric Workplace"“World class organizations really slow down and focus on the investment before results. It takes time, money, and effort to really generate the results we’re looking for.” This investment begins with a sincere interest in employees as individuals. For busy executives, taking the time to understand their people might seem inefficient, but Mr. Thompson insists it's essential for building resilient organizations. He advises replacing perfunctory hallway greetings with more meaningful conversations.Thompson’s emphasis on meaningful workplace interactions echoes broader research on psychological safety in organizations. “The ability to speak up and speak your mind without fear of retribution is a huge driver in organizations,” he said. This environment, according to workplace experts, doesn’t just improve culture, it directly enhances organizational performance and financial outcomes.As AI capabilities expand, the most successful organizations may be those that strategically deploy technology while simultaneously deepening human connections. “As you’re building that culture, it’s getting to know the whole person at a different level that’s going to help your organization and your team succeed.” Editor's note: From Day One thanks our partner, Birkman, for sponsoring this thought leadership spotlight. Chris O’Keeffe is a freelance writer with experience across industries. As the founder and creative director of OK Creative: The Language Agency, he has led strategy and storytelling for organizations like MIT, Amazon, and Cirque du Soleil, bringing their stories to life through established and emerging media. (Photos by Annie Mulligan for From Day One)