What if your work self-had no knowledge of your personal life? In Apple TV+’s hit series “Severance,” this disturbing scenario becomes reality as employees undergo a procedure that surgically divides their consciousness.
This sci-fi premise raises profound questions about a mindset many real-world companies still embrace: can we—or should we—separate technical skills from the whole person?
What happens when workplaces value technical abilities while disregarding the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and emotional intelligence that create soft skills? The consequences are far more significant than you might think.
Research increasingly confirms that when companies embrace the whole person, they gain significant advantages:
- Innovation thrives on diverse perspectives: our personal backgrounds shape how we approach problems. McKinsey’s research shows companies with greater cultural diversity outperform others by 36% in profitability.
- Emotional intelligence drives collaboration: a TalentSmart study found 90% of top performers have high emotional intelligence.
- Resilience comes from personal values: Gallup’s research shows employees who find meaning in their work are 1.7 times more likely to stay with their organisation.
- Authentic connections build stronger teams: Google’s Project Aristotle identified psychological safety as the single most important factor in high-performing teams.
Forward-thinking organisations look beyond resumes for evidence of curiosity and adaptability, value diverse life experiences, create environments where authenticity is encouraged, and recognise that professional development and personal growth are intertwined.
Remember: you’re not just acquiring a skill set; you’re inviting in a whole person with all the complexity, creativity, and humanity that entails.
