“We need to talk a lot more about love,” Dr. Brenda Cassellius tells HOW Fellow Dana Born on the newest episode of HOW Conversations. “Leaders are constantly giving out love to their teams, to their mission, and their purpose. Showing love and doing that unconditionally gives people hope.” During her 30-year career as a teacher, administrator, mentor, and leader, Dr. Cassellius has learned that moral leaders inspire people by touching their hearts, not just their minds. Watch the full episode and hear more about the connection between love and trust and why Dr. Cassellius says leaders need to get “spicey” every day.

Earlier this month the U.S. Surgeon General warned that we are facing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation brought on by a lack of social connections. Humans are social animals, as Aristotle argued long ago, and we need meaningful interactions with others to thrive.

Since early 2020 The HOW Institute has been studying the critical importance of the relationships that fuel today’s human-centered economy. We’ve surveyed thousands of employees asking them about their connections to their organizations, their managers and their colleagues. We found that when employees feel like they are part of a community they are more engaged and inspired. Learn what leaders can do to maintain and foster deep, meaningful connections at work in our Human Connection reports.