The Human Loop Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this week's loop I talk about how AI, leadership, and workplace innovation all connect. I explain that AI tools can be helpful, but the real challenge is building strong leadership, because that’s what actually drives meaningful change in an organization. I share five stories that show how HR is starting to focus more on developing leaders, why workplace innovation matters, the hurdles companies face when adopting AI, and the rising issue of employee burnout. In the end, my main point is that if organizations want better productivity and more engaged employees, they need to invest in their leaders.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to The Human Loop and AI in Leadership

00:59 Workplace Innovation: The Role of Leadership

03:24 Leadership Development: A New Priority for HR

05:45 The AI Silicon Ceiling: Bridging the Gap

07:43 CEOs and Social Media: A Strategic Retreat

09:39 The Burnout Engagement Paradox

12:27 Conclusion: Leadership as the Bottleneck

Studies Mentioned:

Story 1: Workplace Innovation

Story 2: Leadership Development #1 Priority

Story 3: The AI Silicon Ceiling

Story 4: CEOs Going Quiet

Story 5: Burnout-Engagement Paradox

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Connect with The host - Ben Stocken

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Human Loop I sit down with Mizan Rahman, co-founder of Emerge IQ and an OG of the Ai space.

We discuss the evolution of AI, the importance of human synthesis in technology, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI's role in society.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to AI and Human Performance

02:30 - Exploring Human Synthesis in AI

12:38 - The Ethics of AI and Human Interaction

21:53 - AI's Impact on Leadership and Organizational Change

43:08 - Empowering Organizations through the Human Loop

Connect with Miz - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mizan-rahman

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Connect with The host - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken/

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In this weekly loop I discuss the latest research and trends in human performance, AI integration in business, employee engagement, and the challenges of burnout.

We highlight the significant use of AI in organizations, the concerning decline in employee engagement, and the critical need for effective communication and support for managers and employees to combat burnout and enhance productivity.

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Chapters:

00:00 The Rise of AI in Business

02:47 Employee Engagement Trends

06:07 The Burnout Crisis

08:55 AI Training and HR Integration

11:48 Leadership and AI Strategy Disconnect

15:02 Key Takeaways and Future Focus

Studies Mentioned:

Story 1: The AI Value Gap

"The State of AI 2025: Agents, innovation, and transformation"

Source: McKinsey & Company

URL: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/the-state-of-ai

Story 2: Manager Engagement Crisis

"State of the Global Workplace 2025"

Source: Gallup

URL: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/state-of-global-workplace

Story 3: Burnout at All-Time High

"Workforce Trends 2026: Leaders Confront Burnout, Disengagement, and AI-Driven Change"

Source: DHR Global

URL: https://huntscanlon.com/workforce-trends-2026-leaders-confront-burnout-disengagement-and-ai-driven-change/

Story 4: The AI Training Gap

"2025 Talent Trends: Artificial Intelligence in HR"

Source: SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)

Published: February 2025

URL: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/2025-talent-trends/ai-in-hr

Story 5: The AI Strategy Illusion

"Workforce 2025 Global Insights Report"

Source: Korn Ferry

URL: https://www.kornferry.com/about-us/press/korn-ferry-reveals-workforce-2025-research

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Connect with The host - Ben Stocken

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken/

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In this episode I'm joined by Charlie Voller Barnes to discuss the intersection of human performance and AI, exploring the challenges organisations face in adopting AI technologies. We delve into the importance of clarity in goals, the role of people in transformation, and the necessity of continuous feedback and experimentation.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Human Performance and AI

02:03 The State of AI in Business

05:05 Understanding Transformation Failures

08:41 The Role of People in Transformation

13:31 Experimentation and Incremental Change

19:31 Communicating Change Effectively

30:03 Top Tips for Implementing AI Products

Connect with Charlie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cvollerbarnes/

Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.atheriohq.com

Connect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

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In this week's Human Loop I discuss the evolving landscape of leadership in 2026, emphasising the critical role of AI and the necessity for leaders to adapt their strategies. I highlights the importance of human skills, trust, and purpose in driving organisational performance, while also addressing the challenges posed by skill gaps in the workforce.

Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.atheriohq.com

Chapters:

00:00 The State of Leadership in 2026

02:27 Strategic Leadership as a Core Skill

04:22 The Importance of Human Skills and Trust

07:16 Closing the Gap Between Tech and Human Capability

Studies Mentioned:

Story 1: UK business investment in AI and training

https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/assets/pdfs/media/press-releases/2025-press-releases/lloyds-bank/31.12.2025-lloyds-new-year-flash-business-barometer.pdf

Story 2: Survey coverage & additional context

https://www.lloydsbank.com/business/resource-centre/insight/business-barometer.html

Story 3: Skills gaps & transformation barriers

World Economic Forum summary on skills gaps and upskilling priorities

https://gloat.com/blog/ai-employment-impact

Story 4: AI in the workplace & skills obsolescence

https://www.secondtalent.com/resources/future-of-workplace-statistics-that-are-important-to-know/

Connect with The host - Ben Stocken

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of The Human Loop, Agni and I discuss the importance of authenticity in leadership and recruitment, the role of honesty in attracting talent, and the impact of AI on the recruitment process.

Chapters

00:00 Leadership Failures and Authenticity

03:04 The Role of Honesty in Recruitment

06:04 Speed to Hire: Strategies for Success

08:45 AI Adoption in Recruitment

11:45 The Future of AI in Staffing

14:35 Human vs AI in Recruitment

17:41 Building Trust in Recruitment

20:44 The Importance of Relationships

23:48 Differentiating in a Crowded Market

26:47 Leadership Metrics: Sacrifice and Challenge

29:41 Meaningful Work and Team Success

Connect with Agni https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnighosh/

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Connect with The host - Ben Stocken

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken/

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In this week's episode I sit down with Andrew Fahey to discuss the challenges and opportunities for CEOs in 2026, emphasising the importance of realistic optimism. We explore the role of AI in transforming professional services, the necessity of human skills in a tech-driven world, and the innovative approaches Briars is taking to enhance client experience and internal processes.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating 2026: Realistic Optimism for CEOs

02:57 Briars: Global Expansion and Professional Services

05:56 AI Disruption in Professional Services

09:00 The Human Element in AI Integration

11:47 Transforming Client Experience with AI

15:01 Internal Use Cases for AI in Leadership

19:58 The Future of Onboarding and Human Skills

24:39 Generational Challenges in Professional Services

29:48 Conclusion: Embracing Change for Success

Connect with Andrew - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewfahey/

Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.atheriohq.com

Connect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we break down the gap between knowing what great leadership looks like and actually doing it consistently.

We explore why so many founders and managers struggle to apply what they already know, and how a lack of consistency, feedback, and repetition holds teams back.

We also get into the role of energy in leadership, building trust through small behaviours, and how to create a culture that actually reflects your values, not just what you say.

Chapters

00:10 The “Knowing vs Doing” Gap in Leadership

03:10 Does a Leader’s Energy Impact Performance?

08:25 Why Leaders Shouldn’t Always “Save the Day”

09:30 Coaching vs Being the Expert

11:57 Building Better Weekly Leadership Habits

20:21 How Culture Breaks as You Scale

23:32 The Problem with Leadership Development Today

25:10 The Idea Behind Real-Time Leadership Feedback (A Theory)

27:03 Measuring Leadership & Team Engagement

30:41 Is This Just Surveillance?

33:48 Finding a Co-Founder

39:41 Final Takeaways on Leadership & Development

Check out the Founders 500: https://founders500.com

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Connect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

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In this episode, I break down what it really takes to transition from being an operator to becoming an effective leader.

I share the biggest mistakes I see founders and first-time leaders make, from holding onto the “do everything” mindset to skipping the foundations that actually make teams perform.

We also get into how to build strong team cultures, hire for the right reasons, and give feedback in a way that develops people rather than demotivates them.

Chapters

00:23 Who Is Ben?

01:07 Sahara Marathon Challenge

02:26 Rugby to Career Pivot

05:42 Lockdown Decision Moment

07:04 Building a 7-Figure Business

08:13 Where Leadership Started

12:32 Biggest Leadership Mistakes

15:18 The Delegation Problem

18:15 Leadership at Every Level

20:08 How to Onboard Properly

21:11 Culture Explained Simply

26:57 Why Feedback Is Hard

27:16 The Worst Feedback Ever

30:06 How to Give Better Feedback

33:14 Difficult Conversations

Check out the Founders 500: https://founders500.com

Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.com

Connect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.