About the Book
The world feels more split apart by the day. Political, social, and economic differences grow, and the incessant growth of technology, especially AI, creates ever more confusion about what is to come. Meanwhile, we are experiencing a loneliness epidemic that calls into question our individual and collective well-being. Amid this uncertainty, traditional models of leadership are unfulfilling. Jean Larkin and Matt Dunsmoor's The Five Embodiments invites a new way, offering a research-backed and fully human approach to leadership. This book isn't an academic exercise; it's an applied tool kit for recalibrating connection in a fragmented world. The authors present "Human-Focused Leadership" as the necessary paradigm for our age.
Through rich personal stories and examples, plus meaningful perspectives from sociology, biology, psychology, and clinical research, they express the power of five core principles: Curiosity, Authenticity, Care, Gratitude, and Ownership. These "Embodiments" are not theoretical ideas; they are foundational components for ensuring authentic relationships, developing successful teams, and finding solutions for the nuances of the modern workplace.
This book tackles the persistent frustrations of burnout, disengagement, and the difficult skill of offering meaningful feedback. It includes tools to improve work units and create environments there where people feel heard, seen, and valued.
The Five Embodiments is an opportunity to rehumanize work and be the leaders who make the difference. Now is when we move beyond transactional leadership and seek a more empathetic, inclusive, and impactful path. Are you ready to become a leader who inspires, connects, and truly has an impact?
Join the movement. Become a Human-Focused Leader.
About the Author :
Jean Larkin is a human-focused leadership expert who helps people learn and think differently.
Bringing over a decade of experience redefining leadership, she has led multinational, multilingual, and multicultural teams at every phase of growth. Having worked across continents--from Uruguay to the UK, Spain to South Africa--in diverse sectors from travel and hospitality to software and telecommunications, Jean has unique insights into what connects us.
A lifelong learner and skilled teacher with extensive experience in course and program design, she thrives creating and delivering custom solutions that transform teams. Jean brings a multidimensional and adaptable perspective to whatever project she tackles. An early adopter of remote work and distributed teaming, Jean is an advocate of people-first policies.
Born in New York and a Spanish resident, Jean calls Mallorca home. The youngest of a large family, she describes herself as "a competitive ambitious geek" and a "recovering perfectionist." Outside of work, you'll find her practicing yoga, experimenting in the kitchen, creating art, or traveling to visit her favorite tiny humans (they call her aunt Jean).
Matt Dunsmoor has spent over a decade at the forefront of leadership development and organizational design, partnering with celebrated authors and global companies to build more human-focused workplaces. From coaching individuals to speaking on stages in front of thousands, Matt brings clarity, insight, and connection to every room.
He's worked with leaders in more than forty countries across six continents--from small start-ups to Fortune 100 giants--all with a common mission: making work suck less and helping people thrive. Matt was born and raised in Colorado, though as a seasoned world traveler similar to his co-author, he feels at home wherever there is great coffee and even better conversations. A lifelong learner, he devours books, podcasts, TED Talks, and anything that explores leadership, philosophy, and the human experience.
When he's not on stage, writing, or reading, you'll likely find him playing basketball or volleyball, looking for ways to make friends and family laugh, or embracing his favorite role--proud uncle.
Matt and Jean co-founded Octopy to develop human-focused workplaces where people thrive. Octopy exists to help organizations implement and scale the concepts from this book.
Review :
"As a leader and entrepreneur, I've seen what can happen when you put humanity first at work: Connection deepens. Trust grows. Relationships flourish. And your bottom line? Better than ever. But I learned about it the hard way. The Five Embodiments is the guide to human-focused leadership that I wish I'd had when I started my business. It's simple, accessible, and research-backed, and it will help leaders at all levels create cultures of connection and psychological safety. If you're looking to bring humanity back to your workplace but aren't sure where to start, start here."
--Kristen Hadeed, CEO, author of Permission to Screw Up: How I Learned to Lead by Doing (Almost) Everything Wrong
"The Five Embodiments resonates with me on several levels. The way Matt and Jean connect the loneliness epidemic and the obstacles to making meaningful human connections at work is timely and on point. Work has a massive impact on our very being, and the framework this book offers is a novel solution to a widespread problem. When I was building businesses in the '80s, interpersonal human relationships were far more front and center, yet today the norm is much more transactional. The 'embodiments' are an innovative approach to building the skills that many of today's leaders lack. I love how they brought their ideas to life and wove in case studies, stories, and practical takeaways. This is not a system that any company I know of can look at and say 'We already do that.' Despite all the leadership training out there, no one is focusing on this. This is truly a different approach to leadership and in my opinion only has upside."
--Steve Pruett, Executive Chairman, Cox Media; author, The Gain Principle
"If you've ever whispered, 'There's gotta be a better way' into your coffee between meetings--this book offers it. The Five Embodiments is a guide and invitation to making leadership more relational, more intentional, and way more human. If you want to lead in a way that actually serves people and not just performance metrics, this one's for you. It will help you show up with greater clarity, compassion, and the courage to act."
--Stephen "Shed" Shedletzky, speaker; coach; author, Speak-Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen, People Step Up
"Finally, a leadership book that doesn't just inspire. It equips. As someone leading sales, marketing, and culture for a large organization, I've read a lot of leadership books --but The Five Embodiments landed differently. The ideas aren't new, but the way they're framed--curiosity, authenticity, care, gratitude, and ownership--makes them feel accessible and actionable. This book gave me practical tools to grow and to bring my team along for the ride. The chapter wrap-ups and practice prompts made it easy to stay engaged--and easy to come back to. The consistency story from Jean (about yoga and learning to sway instead of staying rigid) hit me hard. Clear, actionable, and actually useful--this is the kind of leadership book you'll dog-ear and revisit again and again."
--Chad Allers, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Bargreen Ellingson
"Every leader who wants to move from feeling stuck to empowered will benefit from reading The Five Embodiments. Jean and Matt provide the perfect blend of story, statistics, and savvy to apply the concepts for real change. Society continues to shift, and these embodiments are no longer just a 'nice-to-have' for leaders. New generations are insisting on returning humanity to the workplace, whether they are virtual, hybrid, or full-time in old-fashioned in-person offices, so take the step in your growth journey by reading this book and embodying these life-changing concepts."
--Dr. Laura Gallaher, speaker, author, and CEO at Gallaher Edge
"When it comes to truly human leadership, it's not about what we know how to do--it's about how we do it. This book lays out a clear, actionable path to lead with presence, purpose, and connection. It's a guide for showing up better--for your people and yourself."
--Rich Diviney, retired Navy SEAL commander and bestselling author of The Attributes and Masters of Uncertainty
"As a CEO of a growing team, I'm always seeking out thoughtful resources that support both personal growth and the development of effective, connected teams. The Five Embodiments is one of those books that truly stands out--a must-read for current and aspiring leaders who understand that leadership is ultimately about people, not just performance. This book presents a powerful framework rooted in human-focused leadership. It reinforces a critical truth: If you want vision to become reality, it must be built on the foundation of strong, genuine relationships. What I found especially impactful is how it shifts the traditional view of management. Instead of leaders seeing themselves as above their teams, The Five Embodiments positions leadership as something that happens with others, not to them. Every person plays a vital role, and success is shared--just like in a high-functioning credit union. One concept that really resonated with me is the broader perspective on relationships--not just the interaction between individuals, but the importance of intentionally nurturing the relationship itself. The book offers several insightful frameworks, such as the relationship triangle, the power of curiosity, the role of authenticity, and much more. These ideas are especially impactful in cooperative environments, where strong, intentional relationships are essential to achieving shared success. For anyone committed to growing as a leader--not just in title but through meaningful action and authentic connection--this book offers both challenge and inspiration. It encourages you to embrace a style of leadership that transforms teams and drives lasting success. Plus, the practical Quick Tips and reference materials included make it a valuable, hands-on resource you can put to work right away with your team."
--Nathan Cape, CEO, Minnequa Works Credit Union
