The Modern Leader series: Practical steps to make sure your people feel seen, heard and that they belong
Modern leadership attribute No.8: Practical steps to make sure your people feel seen, heard and that they belong
It can be easy today to focus on metrics, deadlines and deliverables. But there’s something more fundamental that employees want, which drives performance: the basic human need to feel seen, heard and belong. When these needs are met, people bring their evolved selves to work.
When they’re not, even the most talented employees hold back, disengage and eventually leave.
What this looks like in practice
Here’s how you can make these principles come alive every day:
Making people feel seen
- Learn and use people’s names.
- Notice when someone seems different than usual.
- Acknowledge personal milestones.
- Know everyone’s superpowers and recognize their unique contributions.
- Make eye contact in meetings, even virtual ones.
Ensuring people feel heard
- Practice story listening, not just hearing words.
- Ask follow-up questions that show you’re engaged.
- Act on the input people provide.
- Circle back to show others how their ideas made a difference.
- Make space for quiet voices.
Creating true belonging
- Include people in decisions that affect their work.
- Share the context behind changes.
- Invite different perspectives.
- Create opportunities for people to contribute their unique talents.
- Make team success everyone’s success.
Small actions, big impact
The most powerful moments often come from simple actions:
- Starting meetings by checking in on people; don’t dive right into work.
- Taking a moment to thank someone specifically for their contribution.
- Asking “What do you think?” and carefully listening to the answer.
- Following up on personal details people have shared.
- Making time for one-on-one conversations.
Remember, people don’t expect you to be perfect — they want to know they matter. Sometimes the smallest gesture, like remembering someone’s child had a big game last weekend, can make the biggest difference.
A daily checklist
Ask yourself these questions each day:
- Who did I truly see today?
- Whose voice did I make space for?
- How did I help someone feel they belong?
The answers will tell you if you’re creating the kind of environment where people can bring their best selves to work.
When people know they’re seen, heard and that they belong, they don’t do their jobs — they put their hearts into their work. And that makes all the difference.
David Grossman’s upcoming book, “The Heart Work of Modern Leadership: 6 Differentiators of Exceptional Leaders,” covers actionable insights like this, and more. Learn more and be the first to get access when it is published in August 2025.
About The Modern Leader series
Discover actionable insights released biweekly, designed to help you elevate your own leadership impact and drive the business results you seek.
So, how do you know if you’re a modern leader?
Modern leaders stand apart through their ability to balance head and heart in today’s complex workplace, integrating emotional intelligence with strategic thinking.
New research with The Harris Poll (publishing Summer 2025) shows only 30% of leaders truly meet their teams’ evolving needs — but that elite group leads with “their heart IN their head” and consistently demonstrates six key differentiators.
They:
- Lead with gratitude.
- Listen and empathize.
- Foster an inclusive culture.
- Communicate with context.
- Connect strategy to employee growth.
- Enable employees to meet the moment.
To see additional ways you can differentiate yourself as a modern leader, check out the collection of modern leadership attributes (added bi-weekly) here.