Denise Stafford
@denisestafford.bsky.social
Where Technology and Compassion Collide
Why automation needs a human foundation: A systematic list of my 2025 writing on Industry 5.0 and co-creative leadership.
The Rocket Engine on a Tricycle: Why Automation Needs a Human Foundation
We often buy high-tech gear but run it on outdated cultures based on fear. This guide summarizes 15 articles on how to fix that friction, moving from "Smart" technology to "Wise" leadership.
open.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Why automation needs a human foundation: A systematic list of my 2025 writing on Industry 5.0 and co-creative leadership.
Imagine you are walking down a busy city street and you suddenly feel dizzy. You collapse to the sidewalk.
If you could choose the ideal setting for this medical emergency, what would it be?
(A) A deserted alleyway with only one person walking by.
(B) A crowded plaza with fifty people eating lunch.
If you could choose the ideal setting for this medical emergency, what would it be?
(A) A deserted alleyway with only one person walking by.
(B) A crowded plaza with fifty people eating lunch.
You are safer in a deserted alley than in a crowded plaza.
If you collapse in a crowd, the math of "Diffusion of Responsibility" means no one will help you. Here is the 3-word command you must use to turn a bystander into a hero.
open.substack.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Imagine you are walking down a busy city street and you suddenly feel dizzy. You collapse to the sidewalk.
If you could choose the ideal setting for this medical emergency, what would it be?
(A) A deserted alleyway with only one person walking by.
(B) A crowded plaza with fifty people eating lunch.
If you could choose the ideal setting for this medical emergency, what would it be?
(A) A deserted alleyway with only one person walking by.
(B) A crowded plaza with fifty people eating lunch.
We believe that people who do bad things must be bad people. We think villains are born with a dark “disposition” that makes them cruel.
But psychology has a terrifying truth for you: You don’t need to be evil to do evil things. You just need a staircase.
But psychology has a terrifying truth for you: You don’t need to be evil to do evil things. You just need a staircase.
You don't need to be evil to do evil things. You just need a staircase.
In the 1960s, Stanley Milgram proved that ordinary people would shock a stranger to death if asked nicely. It wasn't because they were monsters. It was because of the "15-Volt Trap." Here is how to sp...
open.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:49 PM
We believe that people who do bad things must be bad people. We think villains are born with a dark “disposition” that makes them cruel.
But psychology has a terrifying truth for you: You don’t need to be evil to do evil things. You just need a staircase.
But psychology has a terrifying truth for you: You don’t need to be evil to do evil things. You just need a staircase.
We all like to think we are excellent judges of character. You look at your colleague Steve, who acts aggressively in meetings, and you think, “Steve is a shark. That’s just who he is.”
We think people do things because of who they are, but we are ignoring where they are.
We think people do things because of who they are, but we are ignoring where they are.
You can turn a "selfish" person "generous" with one word.
Researchers split people into two rooms. Room A played the "Wall Street Game" and acted like sharks. Room B played the "Community Game" and acted like friends. The only difference was the name on the ...
psychologyunpacked.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:23 PM
We all like to think we are excellent judges of character. You look at your colleague Steve, who acts aggressively in meetings, and you think, “Steve is a shark. That’s just who he is.”
We think people do things because of who they are, but we are ignoring where they are.
We think people do things because of who they are, but we are ignoring where they are.
We created departments dedicated to “Human Resources.” We calculated “labor costs” on the same ledger as “material costs.” We designed to extract maximum output from a human until it was depleted or replaced by a cheaper one.
A human is not a resource; they are a Source with infinite capacities.
A human is not a resource; they are a Source with infinite capacities.
Why I Stopped Using the Term “Human Resources”
In 20 years of automation, I learned a hard truth: You use up a resource, but you cultivate a source. If you treat people like components, don't be surprised when they break.
unseenobstacles.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 12:02 AM
We created departments dedicated to “Human Resources.” We calculated “labor costs” on the same ledger as “material costs.” We designed to extract maximum output from a human until it was depleted or replaced by a cheaper one.
A human is not a resource; they are a Source with infinite capacities.
A human is not a resource; they are a Source with infinite capacities.
You probably like to think of your brain as a high-powered computer or a detective like Sherlock Holmes—constantly scanning data, weighing evidence, and coming to a logical conclusion.
But psychology has a humbling truth for you: Your brain is actually kind of lazy.
But psychology has a humbling truth for you: Your brain is actually kind of lazy.
The "K" Puzzle: Proof that your brain is lazy.
Quick: Are there more words that start with K or have K as the third letter? Your answer is probably wrong. Learn how the "Availability Heuristic" tricks you into swapping hard questions for easy ones...
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:04 PM
You probably like to think of your brain as a high-powered computer or a detective like Sherlock Holmes—constantly scanning data, weighing evidence, and coming to a logical conclusion.
But psychology has a humbling truth for you: Your brain is actually kind of lazy.
But psychology has a humbling truth for you: Your brain is actually kind of lazy.
You know that annoying fake “canned laughter” in old sitcoms that plays every time a character opens a door or eats a sandwich?
You probably think you ignore it. You might even think, “I don’t need a machine to tell me what’s funny. I have my own sense of humor.”
Here some bad news: You don’t.
You probably think you ignore it. You might even think, “I don’t need a machine to tell me what’s funny. I have my own sense of humor.”
Here some bad news: You don’t.
You don't decide what's funny. The room does.
In 1984, researchers deleted the crowd noise from a presidential debate. The results were terrifying. Learn why your brain outsources its judgment and how to hit the "Mute Button."
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:06 PM
You know that annoying fake “canned laughter” in old sitcoms that plays every time a character opens a door or eats a sandwich?
You probably think you ignore it. You might even think, “I don’t need a machine to tell me what’s funny. I have my own sense of humor.”
Here some bad news: You don’t.
You probably think you ignore it. You might even think, “I don’t need a machine to tell me what’s funny. I have my own sense of humor.”
Here some bad news: You don’t.
What helps me in everyday 'traffic craziness' is observing MYSELF. Sometimes I make a move -for good reasons 😁- that might seem odd to others. In these cases I wish I had a sign saying WHY I drive 'crazy'.
When someone drives 'crazy' I make up a forgiving story like 'his girl broke up with him'
When someone drives 'crazy' I make up a forgiving story like 'his girl broke up with him'
Why You Are "Busy" But They Are "Lazy"
You judge yourself by your intentions, but everyone else by their actions. This psychological trap is ruining your relationships. Here is the 3-second script to fix it.
psychologyunpacked.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:26 PM
What helps me in everyday 'traffic craziness' is observing MYSELF. Sometimes I make a move -for good reasons 😁- that might seem odd to others. In these cases I wish I had a sign saying WHY I drive 'crazy'.
When someone drives 'crazy' I make up a forgiving story like 'his girl broke up with him'
When someone drives 'crazy' I make up a forgiving story like 'his girl broke up with him'
Plenty of people working in automation projects have told me, that “the worker” or “the people” are their main pain point when doing the projects. Understanding that the pain point is not actually the worker but the dismissal of them and their input is a learning that is still ongoing.
We Traded Backaches for Headaches.
Automation solved the heavy lifting, but it created a massive mental health crisis on the factory floor. And that crisis is breaking our supply chains. It’s time to talk about the cost of "efficiency....
unseenobstacles.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Plenty of people working in automation projects have told me, that “the worker” or “the people” are their main pain point when doing the projects. Understanding that the pain point is not actually the worker but the dismissal of them and their input is a learning that is still ongoing.
We tend to think our eyes work like cameras—just recording exactly what happens. But psychology says they’re actually more like "Storytellers." 📖
That’s why a text left on "read" instantly turns into "they must be mad at me." 📱
Your brain loves to fill in the blanks with drama.
That’s why a text left on "read" instantly turns into "they must be mad at me." 📱
Your brain loves to fill in the blanks with drama.
Your Brain isn't a Camera. It's a Liar.
A 1944 study involving triangles proves you don't record reality—you construct it. Here is the "Story Hack" used by therapists to stop the drama spiral instantly.
open.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:01 AM
We tend to think our eyes work like cameras—just recording exactly what happens. But psychology says they’re actually more like "Storytellers." 📖
That’s why a text left on "read" instantly turns into "they must be mad at me." 📱
Your brain loves to fill in the blanks with drama.
That’s why a text left on "read" instantly turns into "they must be mad at me." 📱
Your brain loves to fill in the blanks with drama.
Industry 5.0 ensures that investments in technology are made for the right reasons by putting humans in the center.
Technology has to serve humans and humans know best where robots are useful. Technology for the sake of technology only will not be sustainable.
Technology has to serve humans and humans know best where robots are useful. Technology for the sake of technology only will not be sustainable.
Why Your Robot Colleague is Failing (And How to Fix It)
We bought the hardware, but we forgot to install the operating system. Why expensive robots sit unused and how "Cognitive Ergonomics" unlocks the true potential of Industry 5.0.
unseenobstacles.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Industry 5.0 ensures that investments in technology are made for the right reasons by putting humans in the center.
Technology has to serve humans and humans know best where robots are useful. Technology for the sake of technology only will not be sustainable.
Technology has to serve humans and humans know best where robots are useful. Technology for the sake of technology only will not be sustainable.
Are you automating to replace human labor, or to augment it? Do you view your operators as users to be supervised, or partners to be consulted?
It’s easy to agree with "human-centricity" in principle. It’s much harder to execute it in practice.
Here is a quick diagnostic where your strategy stands
It’s easy to agree with "human-centricity" in principle. It’s much harder to execute it in practice.
Here is a quick diagnostic where your strategy stands
Are You Leading in the Past or the Future? Take this 2-Minute Audit.
Many leaders buy Industry 5.0 technology but manage it with Industry 4.0 habits. That mismatch creates the "Hybrid Trap." See which side of the checklist your strategy lands on today.
open.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Are you automating to replace human labor, or to augment it? Do you view your operators as users to be supervised, or partners to be consulted?
It’s easy to agree with "human-centricity" in principle. It’s much harder to execute it in practice.
Here is a quick diagnostic where your strategy stands
It’s easy to agree with "human-centricity" in principle. It’s much harder to execute it in practice.
Here is a quick diagnostic where your strategy stands
For decades, the promise of automation was pure efficiency. But this approach has hit a wall. The most common cause of project failure isn’t technical; it’s human.
Industry 5.0 could be the solution: a profound value-shift, placing people, resilience, and sustainability at the center of strategy.
Industry 5.0 could be the solution: a profound value-shift, placing people, resilience, and sustainability at the center of strategy.
The most common cause of project failure isn’t technical; it’s human. Here’s how the Industry 5.0 "value shift" finally solves that problem.
We've all seen it: automation projects that fail because of "human resistance." But what if the problem isn't the people, but the philosophy? I dove into Industry 5.0, and it's not just a tech update...
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:54 PM
For decades, the promise of automation was pure efficiency. But this approach has hit a wall. The most common cause of project failure isn’t technical; it’s human.
Industry 5.0 could be the solution: a profound value-shift, placing people, resilience, and sustainability at the center of strategy.
Industry 5.0 could be the solution: a profound value-shift, placing people, resilience, and sustainability at the center of strategy.
I tested the new NotebookLM video feature using my research on Industry 5.0. Here is the completely uncut output.
While I would approach a video differently and it sometimes not exactly show my personal perspective, it serves as a worthy introduction to the topic.
#Industry50 #AI #FutureOfWork
While I would approach a video differently and it sometimes not exactly show my personal perspective, it serves as a worthy introduction to the topic.
#Industry50 #AI #FutureOfWork
The Great Recalibration??? An AI's "First Draft" of Industry 5.0
Watch now | I'm deep in my Industry 5.0 research. As an experiment, I fed my notes to an AI to see what it would create. Here is the uncut result (AI title and all). It's not how I'll present the topi...
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I tested the new NotebookLM video feature using my research on Industry 5.0. Here is the completely uncut output.
While I would approach a video differently and it sometimes not exactly show my personal perspective, it serves as a worthy introduction to the topic.
#Industry50 #AI #FutureOfWork
While I would approach a video differently and it sometimes not exactly show my personal perspective, it serves as a worthy introduction to the topic.
#Industry50 #AI #FutureOfWork
Here's a powerful question you should try before a big project kicks off: "Let's imagine it's six months from now and this project has failed spectacularly. What went wrong?"
It's a technique called a "Pre-Mortem," and it's an effective way to engineer healthy conflict.
It's a technique called a "Pre-Mortem," and it's an effective way to engineer healthy conflict.
The most dangerous sound in a meeting isn't an argument—it's silence.
We're taught to avoid conflict, but the polite silence in a meeting is often a sign of fear, not alignment. It's where good ideas go to die. My latest article, "The Art of Creative Disagreement," offe...
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Here's a powerful question you should try before a big project kicks off: "Let's imagine it's six months from now and this project has failed spectacularly. What went wrong?"
It's a technique called a "Pre-Mortem," and it's an effective way to engineer healthy conflict.
It's a technique called a "Pre-Mortem," and it's an effective way to engineer healthy conflict.
Your best automation ideas aren't in the boardroom. They're on the factory floor, hidden in the expertise of your frontline team.
The people who live with the process every day know what actually needs fixing.
The people who live with the process every day know what actually needs fixing.
How to Unlock Your Team's Best Automation Ideas
A Guide to Capturing and Scaling Innovation from the Frontline. We're taught that big transformation requires a big, top-down strategy. But what if that's a myth? My new article offers a playbook for ...
open.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Your best automation ideas aren't in the boardroom. They're on the factory floor, hidden in the expertise of your frontline team.
The people who live with the process every day know what actually needs fixing.
The people who live with the process every day know what actually needs fixing.
When the pressure is on, do you lead like a firefighter or an architect? One reacts to the flames, the other strengthens the building.
The best leaders use pressure to apply principles, not abandon them. Here is a playbook for leading through the fire without burning out your team.
The best leaders use pressure to apply principles, not abandon them. Here is a playbook for leading through the fire without burning out your team.
How To Lead For Growth When You're Measured On Results
When a crisis hits, do you lead like a Firefighter or an Architect? The first reacts to the flames, the second understands the building. This article offers a playbook for navigating the intense press...
unseenobstacles.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:12 AM
When the pressure is on, do you lead like a firefighter or an architect? One reacts to the flames, the other strengthens the building.
The best leaders use pressure to apply principles, not abandon them. Here is a playbook for leading through the fire without burning out your team.
The best leaders use pressure to apply principles, not abandon them. Here is a playbook for leading through the fire without burning out your team.
Your ROI spreadsheet is blind to the things that actually kill projects: burnout, lost expertise, and broken trust. The real ROI is your team's collective capacity.
Get a more complete picture with a framework for measuring what truly matters.
Get a more complete picture with a framework for measuring what truly matters.
Your ROI Spreadsheet is Lying. Here’s What We Should Measure Instead.
Stop choosing between the spreadsheet and your people. The most successful changemakers understand both are essential for a complete picture of reality. Learn how to build automation that looks good o...
open.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Your ROI spreadsheet is blind to the things that actually kill projects: burnout, lost expertise, and broken trust. The real ROI is your team's collective capacity.
Get a more complete picture with a framework for measuring what truly matters.
Get a more complete picture with a framework for measuring what truly matters.
Reposted by Denise Stafford
Armed with hundreds of thousands of dollars from Newman’s Own Foundation and Ozempic creator Novo Nordisk, young Native Americans are leading the fight against persistently high rates of food insecurity in tribal communities.
Here's what young Native Americans funded with $720K from Newman's Own Foundation and Novo Nordisk
Young Native Americans are leading efforts to combat food insecurity in tribal communities.
bit.ly
October 18, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Armed with hundreds of thousands of dollars from Newman’s Own Foundation and Ozempic creator Novo Nordisk, young Native Americans are leading the fight against persistently high rates of food insecurity in tribal communities.
Your team's expertise might be the biggest obstacle to innovation. My latest post explores the "Not-Invented-Here" syndrome and how to build a culture that rewards finding the best ideas, not just inventing them.
Read it on substack: tinyurl.com/3uzznxez
Read it on substack: tinyurl.com/3uzznxez
October 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Your team's expertise might be the biggest obstacle to innovation. My latest post explores the "Not-Invented-Here" syndrome and how to build a culture that rewards finding the best ideas, not just inventing them.
Read it on substack: tinyurl.com/3uzznxez
Read it on substack: tinyurl.com/3uzznxez
You can't build a truly purpose-driven company if your people are afraid to contribute. The silence of your smartest team members is often the first sign that a toxic "blame cycle" is undermining your human-centric culture.
Why your smartest people stay silent
Unlock your team's full potential by understanding why smart people are silent. Learn how to break with the toxic "cycle of blame" and build a culture of psychological safety where very voice can thri...
open.substack.com
September 9, 2025 at 2:51 PM
You can't build a truly purpose-driven company if your people are afraid to contribute. The silence of your smartest team members is often the first sign that a toxic "blame cycle" is undermining your human-centric culture.
Every team has a brilliant "Innovator" and a wise "Steward." Most leaders let them clash. The best leaders know how to turn them into the organization's most powerful asset. Here’s the playbook.
Innovators vs. Stewards: A Playbook for Human-Centric Automation
Stop Automating Tasks. Start Empowering People. The biggest mistake in automation isn't choosing the wrong tech. It's ignoring your most valuable dataset: the unspoken, gut-level knowledge of your mos...
open.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Every team has a brilliant "Innovator" and a wise "Steward." Most leaders let them clash. The best leaders know how to turn them into the organization's most powerful asset. Here’s the playbook.
You know your team, you know you can trust them, so you let them do their job. But then, suddenly, you can’t get rid of these nagging thoughts. Are they really doing everything they can? Will the plan they came up with work? What if they fail, will management blame it on me?
The Myth of the Indispensable Manager
Counter the narrative and be an Inspiring Leader, using your power to lead a thriving team
open.substack.com
August 8, 2025 at 3:55 PM
You know your team, you know you can trust them, so you let them do their job. But then, suddenly, you can’t get rid of these nagging thoughts. Are they really doing everything they can? Will the plan they came up with work? What if they fail, will management blame it on me?
Today's leaders know that employees are more than just parts of a production process. They are creative thinkers, ethical decision-makers, and bring diverse perspectives that drive innovation.
#FutureOfWork #InclusiveLeadership
#FutureOfWork #InclusiveLeadership
March 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Today's leaders know that employees are more than just parts of a production process. They are creative thinkers, ethical decision-makers, and bring diverse perspectives that drive innovation.
#FutureOfWork #InclusiveLeadership
#FutureOfWork #InclusiveLeadership
What does "human-centric" truly mean in the era of Industry 5.0? Often, it's seen as putting humans at the center of production—guiding them, easing workloads, and supporting decision-making.
#HumanCentric #Industry5
#HumanCentric #Industry5
February 28, 2025 at 4:25 PM
What does "human-centric" truly mean in the era of Industry 5.0? Often, it's seen as putting humans at the center of production—guiding them, easing workloads, and supporting decision-making.
#HumanCentric #Industry5
#HumanCentric #Industry5