What Festivals Can Teach Us About Modern Leadership, Presence & Joy at Work and in Life – and Why Human Connection is a Priority
By Rani Sheilagh - Cyberpsychologist | Wellness & Lifestyle Futurist
This past weekend, I was at the All Together Now festival, surrounded by music, energy, art, activism and thousands of people reconnecting with something we too often forget in the rhythm of everyday life:
Joy and play - for the simple, beautiful sake of it.
No notifications. No timelines. No productivity hacks.
Just rhythm, atmosphere and the kind of shared experience that reminds us how human we really are… beyond to-do lists, inboxes, the demands of daily life and Zoom calls.
Why does this matter for how we lead, live and work?
As a cyberpsychologist exploring the intersection of digital culture, wellness and human behaviour, I’m constantly reflecting on the patterns playing out in our modern lives — and the pieces so many leaders and organisations are missing:
People are showing up, but they’re burned out.
They’re more connected than ever, yet feel disconnected.
And joy and pleasure, our most human and generative sources of energy, are often dismissed as “nice-to-haves”.
From a cyberpsychology perspective, we know that overstimulation, constant digital input and fractured attention deeply affect how people think, feel, lead and relate. When our nervous systems are overwhelmed, creativity, empathy, focus and presence are the first to go.
Festivals remind us of something our tech-driven world often erodes:
Presence, connection and pleasure aren’t distractions, they’re essentials.
They are fuel. Foundations. Strategy.
What Music Festivals Can Teach Us About Modern Leadership
1. Presence restores clarity
Stepping away from the constant swirl of digital activity creates space for real, original thought.
Festivals offer an environment where presence becomes a default, and in that presence, new ideas, clarity and calm can emerge. It’s wildly productive, in the most human way.
In cyberpsychology, we understand that attention is a limited resource.
Cultivating presence is more than mindful – it’s neurological self-defence in a world of hyperstimulation.
2. Shared joy builds culture
You don’t need a forced team-building day to cultivate connection.
Shared joy, through music, food, or meaningful experiences, is one of the most powerful forms of bonding we have. (And let me be clear: this should happen during working hours, not added on to someone’s personal time.)
Digital culture can isolate us even when we're together.
Joyful, real-world experiences reconnect us to something deeper: belonging.
3. Pleasure is fuel, not a reward
When we treat joy, pleasure and play as something to be earned, we miss the point.
Pleasure, whether through a song, a meal, a dance, a deep conversation or a humourous exchange, is a renewable source of energy and creativity. It helps us show up with more capacity, not less.
Cyberpsychology reminds us: sustained digital engagement drains emotional and cognitive resources. Pleasure and presence restore them.
Imagine if work felt a little more like this…
Energising.
Connected.
Creative.
Human.
This isn’t indulgence.
This is intelligent, intentional strategy.
Joy is a leadership tool.
If you’re looking for a speaker, panelist or facilitator who can translate cyberpsychology, digital wellbeing, wellness, pleasure and human connection into actionable strategies for modern leadership and thriving workplace culture, I’d love to chat.
