Lori Zukin

What can we do this holiday season, and in our daily lives, to create more authentic connection—more space to see each other, to be curious without an agenda, to see and be seen? To spark inspiration in others simply by paying attention to them?

When we let joy show up and share it with others, it changes how we see the world and how we treat people. It softens us, helps us connect, and builds influence that doesn’t depend on our title or position. Joy creates a subtle ripple: it sparks hope, invites curiosity instead of anger, and gives us a different way to honor hard things without getting stuck in them.

Take AI adoption. Many leaders see employee hesitation as “resistance.” But what if it’s actually thoughtful concern? When we project our own assumptions instead of getting curious, we miss opportunities for innovation and improved outcomes.