“Leadership is all about getting personal … A job is about a lot more than a paycheck. It’s about your dignity.”
Context
This week’s quote comes from former US president Joe Biden, who addressed thousands of HR professionals at the annual Society for Human Resource Management conference in San Diego, where he spoke about leadership, empathy and workplace dignity.
In a wide-ranging speech that blended personal stories with professional insights, Biden likened the presidency to being a “chief people officer” and urged HR leaders to champion compassion as a leadership imperative. His remarks came at a time of renewed scrutiny on the emotional intelligence of corporate leaders and rising concern about how AI and economic pressure are reshaping workplace culture and morale.
For many in attendance, Biden’s comments served as a timely reminder that HR is not just a function but also a force for humanity.
Meaning
Biden’s quote draws attention to an enduring but often overlooked truth in leadership:
- Work is personal: Beyond salary, people seek respect, purpose and emotional security at work.
- Empathy is a leadership strength: Leaders who connect with people as individuals are more likely to build trust and psychological safety.
- Dignity matters: How people are treated at work has a direct impact on their wellbeing, identity and long-term engagement.
By framing leadership as “getting personal,” Biden rejects the old adage that business isn’t personal, arguing instead that all business is personal, especially when people are involved.
Implications
Biden’s remarks resonate widely, including in the UK, where HR professionals continue to navigate major transformations in the world of work:
Work-life boundaries: As flexible and hybrid work evolves, how organisations treat family commitments remains a litmus test of genuine inclusion.
Cultural leadership: Treating dignity as a core value — not just an ethical nicety — can drive engagement, reduce attrition and foster high-performance cultures.
Mental health and wellbeing: Creating space for employees to be fully human at work — with empathy, vulnerability and all — supports both morale and productivity.
For UK employers, Biden’s message may serve as a poignant counterpoint to more transactional, output-driven approaches to management. It echoes broader efforts to embed human-centred leadership, whether through mental health support, coaching-style management or inclusive decision-making.
HRreview was in attendance at the CIPD Festival of Work in London just days before Biden’s US speech — and similar themes were front and centre there too. Empathy, connection and trust remain the foundations of modern leaderership — in any country and in any context..
