foHRsight: HR, Leadership & the Future of Work

How to Move from Survival Mode to Thriving at Work with Jon Rosemberg

• Mark Edgar and Naomi Titleman • Episode 189

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0:00 | 39:01

What if someone can look successful on paper and still be operating almost entirely in survival mode?

For HR leaders, that distinction matters. Organizations are moving faster, employees are carrying more, technology keeps accelerating the pace, and HR is often asked to respond with another program, initiative or tool. But what if thriving at work depends on something more fundamental?

In this episode of foHRsight, Naomi Titleman Colla speaks with Jon Rosemberg about the difference between success and thriving, and why agency, meaning and connection are essential to moving out of survival mode. Jon explores what happens to our decision-making when our nervous systems are overloaded, how emotions can become useful information rather than something to suppress, and why slowing down can actually help us respond more effectively when everything feels urgent. 

They also unpack Jon’s AIR framework: Awareness, Inquiry and Reframing, a practical way to create distance from difficult situations, challenge the stories we’re telling ourselves and see more possibilities before deciding what to do next. 

For HR leaders, the conversation ultimately lands somewhere deceptively simple: people need to feel seen, heard and valued. If work has become increasingly transactional, meaningful human connection may be one of the most important conditions HR and leaders can create for people to thrive. 

About Our Guest

Jon Rosenberg is a former operations executive turned advisor, the founding partner of Anthr and author of A Guide to Thriving. His work with founders and CEOs focuses on widening the frame around difficult decisions and helping people reclaim agency, making his perspective particularly relevant for leaders navigating pressure, uncertainty and change. 

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