A few weeks ago, I travelled to Los Angeles to attend the ATD International Conference & Exposition, the world’s largest Learning and Development conference.
The trip was memorable for many reasons. After working together online for several years, I finally met Dr. Lola Gershfeld in person. Within a few days, we went from virtual meetings to presenting together multiple times and speaking with professionals from around the world about Emotional Connection (EmC) and its role in creating healthier, more effective workplaces.
Like many conferences this year, AI was a dominant topic. It was featured in keynote sessions, vendor booths and conversations about the future of work.
Yet the biggest lesson I brought home wasn’t about technology.
It was about human connection.
What ATD 2026 revealed about the future of workplace learning
ATD brings together learning professionals, leadership experts, HR practitioners and organisational development specialists from around the world. The conference often provides an early indication of the challenges and opportunities organisations are focusing on.
While artificial intelligence was one of the most-discussed topics at this year’s event, another theme recurred in conversations with attendees.
People are craving meaningful human connection.
Many professionals spoke about the challenges of spending so much of their working lives online. They described feeling disconnected, overwhelmed and fatigued by constant digital interaction.
In contrast, being together in person created opportunities for genuine conversations, shared experiences and deeper learning.
Why human connection matters more than ever
One of the most surprising observations from the conference was how many people described our work as a breath of fresh air.
While many exhibitors were demonstrating AI tools and technology solutions, our conversations focused on relationships, trust, emotions and connection.
The response was overwhelmingly positive.
Again and again, people spoke about the importance of feeling seen, understood and valued at work.
These needs are not new.
However, in increasingly digital workplaces, they can easily be overlooked.
As technology continues to evolve, emotional connection becomes even more important because it provides something technology cannot replace: authentic human relationships.
The workplace challenges people kept talking about
Throughout the conference, several workplace challenges came up repeatedly.
These included:
• Lack of trust within teams
• Communication breakdowns
• Conflict that remains unresolved
• Emotional disconnection
• Siloed working
• Employee disengagement
While these issues may appear different on the surface, they often share a common root cause: a breakdown in connection.
When people feel disconnected from one another, collaboration becomes more difficult, misunderstandings increase and trust begins to erode.
What becomes possible when teams repair disconnection?
In our workshops and discussions, participants identified a number of positive outcomes that emerge when teams actively address disconnection.
These included:
• Greater trust
• Better communication
• Stronger collaboration
• Increased productivity
• Higher employee engagement
• Reduced turnover
• Healthier workplace cultures
These are outcomes every organisation wants to achieve.
The question is whether leaders are investing enough in the human skills required to create them.
Why emotional connection is a business strategy, not a soft skill
Emotional connection is sometimes dismissed as a soft skill.
Yet the outcomes associated with strong workplace relationships are anything but soft.
Trust influences performance.
Communication affects productivity.
Psychological safety impacts innovation.
Connection supports retention, engagement and wellbeing.
When leaders intentionally create environments where people feel connected, organisations benefit from stronger teamwork, greater resilience and improved performance.
This is why emotional connection should not be viewed as an optional extra.
It is a strategic capability.
The future of work still depends on human relationships
There is no doubt that AI will continue to transform how we work, learn and communicate.
The organisations that thrive will undoubtedly learn how to leverage these tools effectively.
However, technology alone cannot create trust.
It cannot build meaningful relationships.
It cannot replace the sense of belonging that people experience when they feel genuinely connected to those around them.
The more technology advances, the more valuable human connection becomes.
That was perhaps the most important lesson I took away from ATD 2026.
In Episode 94 of the podcast, Dr. Lola Gershfeld, Aoife O’Brien and I reflect on our experience at ATD and explore why emotional connection may be more important than ever in today’s workplaces.
Experience Emotional Connection in practice
If you would like to develop practical skills for building trust, communication and connection in your work, I invite you to join the next EmC Masterclass.
Taking place on 23rd and 24th September, this experiential programme combines in-person learning with follow-up integration sessions to help participants apply Emotional Connection principles in real-world settings.
The programme is accredited by ICF, PSI and SHRM, and funding may be available through South West Gnó Skillnet for eligible participants.
Whether you are a coach, leader, HR professional, consultant or Learning and Development practitioner, the EmC Masterclass provides practical tools for creating stronger relationships and healthier workplace cultures. Visit the page below.
Emotional Connection (EmC) Europe Live Certification Training