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Podcast by Andrew Grossett
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Relationships at Work - The Leadership Guide to Building Workplace Connections and Avoiding Blind Spots.
Russel Lolacher
Relationships at Work - your leadership guide to building workplace connections and avoiding blind spots. A relatable and honest show on leadership, organizational culture and soft skills, focusing on improving employee engagement and company culture to inspire people to apply, stay and thrive. Because no one wants leadership that fosters toxic environments at work, nor should they. Host, speaker and communications leader Russel Lolacher shares his experience and insights, discussing the lea ...
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In this episode, host Russel Lolacher tackles the pervasive issue of "checked-box leadership" in leadership training — when organizations send employees to leadership programs without a strategic plan for continued growth. Education and professional development are vital, but without follow-up, support, and real opportunities to apply new skills, t…
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Join us for an enlightening conversation with Roberta Matuson—keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of seven influential books on leadership and talent management, including "Can We Talk? Seven Principles for Managing Difficult Conversations at Work" and the latest edition of "Suddenly in Charge: Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Ar…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher shares key insights and observations about one of the most common challenges in the workplace—employees feeling undervalued. We highlight the critical signs leaders should be aware of, from disengagement to burnout, and offer practical steps to address these issues. Join us as we explor…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher sits down with Morgan Williams, co-founder and CEO of Peak HR, and founder of MWHR Consulting, to discuss the growing disconnect between executives and employees in today’s workplace. Drawing on her extensive experience in HR, psychology, and conflict management, Morgan dives into the r…
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In this episode, we dive into the concept of moral imagination as an antidote to the arrogant assumptions that can easily creep into leadership. Inspired by Jacqueline Novogratz's book Manifesto For A Moral Revolution, we explore how leaders can envision a more just and inclusive future by embracing humility, empathy, and authenticity. We'll discus…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with COO and entrepreneur Matt Verlaque on the necessity of stay interviews for the health of your organization. Matt shares his experience and insights on... Stay interviews assess personal and professional fulfillment Candid communication builds strong teams. Frequent one-on-ones create conti…
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We’ve hit a major milestone—200 episodes! Since launching Relationships at Work in January 2022, it's been an incredible journey, evolving from a weekly interview show to twice-a-week episodes, including mini solo episodes every Thursday. Whether you've listened, watched, or supported us through this newsletter, thank you! In this special episode, …
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, we celebrate the 200th episode of the show. To mark the occasion, Russel invites back former guests and a few listeners to share their personal experiences with the work relationships that have shaped their leadership journeys. We ask these experts three questions and learn so much from their answers. What …
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In leadership, even the best-intentioned among us can fall into the trap of making assumptions, often without realizing it. This week, we’re diving into a common leadership pitfall: the arrogant assumption. Inspired by Jacqueline Novogratz's Manifesto for a Moral Revolution, I explore how these assumptions can impact our teams, business relationshi…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher welcomes leadership and employee strategist Marc Haine to dive deep into one of the most important but overlooked aspects of leadership: guiding your team through their employee journey. Marc shares personal stories and invaluable insights on why leaders must shift from being mere managers t…
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Is the traditional leadership culture broken? In this episode, we explore the fractured state of leadership from the executive level to emerging leaders. Learn why organizations reward productivity over people skills and discover how leaders at every level can take control and redefine what leadership truly means for a thriving workplace culture. E…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with executive coach, author, and international speaker Michele Molitor on avoiding the dangers of pursuing perfection as leaders. Michele shares her insights and experience on... Perfection is personal and subjective. Embracing imperfections is healthier. Perfectionism as a trauma response. St…
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Are you tired of surface-level solutions to deep-seated workplace issues? In this episode, we dive into why traditional reactions like reprimanding a bad boss or throwing pizza lunches at disengaged employees only address symptoms, not the disease. Discover how focusing on root causes—like toxic cultures, poor management practices, and systemic fla…
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Write Like a Leader: How To Be More Impactful In Our Written Communication w/ Grace Aldridge Foster
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with senior instructor and principle at Bold Type consultancy Grace Aldridge Foster on how leaders can be more impactful writers and build connection with their teams. Grace shares her insights and experience with... Thoughtful communication in leadership writing. Writing as a model for expecta…
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In a world where leaders often feel pressured to have all the answers, it’s easy to fall into the trap of faking it. But what if the real power of leadership lies in admitting when you don't know? In this episode, we tackle the toxic advice many leaders receive—lie if you don’t know—and why embracing vulnerability is the key to building genuine tru…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with author, speaker and former pro athlete Dre Baldwin on the benefits of having a sports philosophy when engaging a team in the workplace. Dre shares his insights and experience on... Team dynamics mirror sports teams. Caution against "family" culture. The role of competition in the workplace…
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Before you can build the work culture you envision, do you truly understand the culture you have now? In this episode of Relationships at Work, we explore the importance of taking a hard look at your current organizational environment before setting future goals. Using real-life examples, we discuss why leaders often fail to transform their teams a…
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Immigrant Leadership: The Key to Innovation and Cultural Transformation w/ Ukeme Awakessien Jeter
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with author, mayor and lawyer Ukeme Awakessien Jeter on the importance of embracing immigrant leadership in the workplace. Ukeme shares her insights and experience in... The unique leadership skills of immigrants. Intersectionality in DEI and bias. ImmiGrit as a concept. Transformative resilien…
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How can new leaders earn trust from day one? In this episode of Relationships at Work, host and leadership expert Russel Lolacher dives into the importance of honoring past legacies when joining a team. Whether you're stepping into a new role or leading an established group, understanding the history behind their successes and challenges is key to …
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with author, keynote speaker, research and success coach Simon Bailey on what it takes for leadership resilience and brilliance. Simon shares his insights and experience in... Resilience is a double-edged sword. Brilliance is a necessary compliment to resilience in leadership. Generational diff…
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What happens when leaders do nothing? In this episode, host Russel Lolacher exposes the silent damage caused by leadership inaction and its profound impact on workplace culture. Though it is often said that work culture is the sum of words said and actions taken, it is actually missing the bigger picture. Inaction has as much impact on our workplac…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with speaker, author and change enthusiast Cassandra Worthy on how we can embrace difficult emotions and harness the power of change enthusiasm. Cassandra shares her experience and insights in... Emotional awareness as a foundation for change. Opportunity for change in adversity. Resilience is …
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What if being 'professional' is actually holding your workplace back? In this episode, host Russel Lolacher challenges the traditional norms and reveals why respect, not rigid professionalism, is the key to a thriving, diverse workplace. The idea of professionalism is usually about aligning behaviours, dress codes, communication styles and work eth…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with author, executive coach and leadership expert Morag Barrett on how to establish and build workplace connections. Morag shares her insights and experience in.. The importance of trust in work relationships. Building and recognizing connection. Loneliness in leadership is a real issue. Inten…
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Is your leadership style disrespecting your team's time? In this episode, host Russel Lolacher reveals the subtle ways leaders overlook others' time and offers practical tips to show genuine respect, regardless of hierarchy. We all have work to do and deadlines to do them by. But as leaders looking to build connection and relationships, it's vital …
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with the chairman and chief executive officer of Baker Donelson, Tim Lupinacci on managing change in a traditionally change-resistant industry. Tim shares his insights and experience in... Leadership through relationships Challenging traditional structures Opportunistic change management Balanc…
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What if executive presence is less about fitting a mold and more about how leaders truly show up? In this episode, host Russel Lolacher challenges the traditional view and offers fresh insights on crafting a meaningful and impactful executive presence. Executive presence is always seen as whether staff fit the mold of their C-Suite, when it also co…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with instructor, consultant and academic Aleha Ingles on the value of culture audits and where to start in our organizations. Aleha shares her experience and insights in... Importance of leadership awareness. Consistent cultural audits to keep up with change. Setting clear communication expecta…
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What if leadership guardrails are the secret to staying on track? In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership expert Russel Lolacher explores the crucial role these boundaries play in challenging leaders and offering perspectives they might otherwise miss. Russel shares real-world questions that effective guardrails shou…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with personal branding image consultant Shelley Golden on the importance of appearance and how to show up in the right way for work. Shelley shares her experience and insight in the... Importance of appearance on perception. Standards of professional attire. Detailed appearance reflects work et…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher digs into "soft skills" and why calling them soft couldn't be further from the truth. Though language around "soft skills" is changing, the importance we put on these essential skills continues to struggle. Russel shares multiple reasons why thes…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with researcher and work stress and burnout prevention consultant Nina Nesdoly on how understanding neuroscience is the key to addressing stress and burnout. Nina shares her insights and experience with... Understanding stress and burnout Impact of stress on cognitive abilities Overwhelming str…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher highlights the importance of what do as much as how we do it in our leadership. No leader wants to hurt or fracture their team culture, but if we don't better align our intentions with our actions, we could do far more damage than we realize. Rus…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with leadership communication consultant John Bates on how understanding neurobiology helps us connect through communication. John shares his insights and experience with... Effective communication is not just logical but biological. Importance of trusting gut feelings The value of sharing lead…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher shares more effective job interview questions to understand leadership. Interview questions are extremely formulaic, regardless of industry. Almost all are focused on productivity, with very few determining the applicants leadership experience an…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with master facilitator and executive coach Paul O'Beirne on what a first-time leader really needs to know and so does the organization they work for. Paul shares his insights and experience in... Transition challenges for new leaders. Importance of support systems. Leadership vs. management. U…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher explains the importance of regular leadership tests to ensure we're on the right track. As a leader, how do we know we're any good? That comes from regular check ins in how we react to circumstances at work. We need to proactively be curious abou…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with author and executive coach Mark J. Silverman on understanding and approaching leadership ambition. Mark shares his experience and insights on... The root of true ambition. Reckoning with ambition's impact at work. Self-awareness and authentic ambition. Generational shifts in ambition. Bala…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher shares the importance of not prioritizing productivity over humanity. The ends can not justify the means. As a leader, it's vital that we provide a service or product, and deliver countless things along the way. The problem is when leaders achiev…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with authors and Edelman Executive Vice-Presidents Elena Grotto and Felicia Joy on understanding leadership influence and its impact on teams and workplace culture. Elena and Felicia share their experience and insights on... Continuous learning and adaption as leaders. Balancing humanity and pr…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher discusses the causes and answers to cultural debt. Technical debt is a common term in software development to explain growing issues caused by not properly addressing problems. By only implementing "band-aid" solutions, the root problems only con…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with best-selling author, drama researcher and headline speaker Cy Wakeman on focusing on a reality-based leadership approach to improve accountability at work. Cy shares her insights and experience in: Why we need to self-reflect and be personally accountable. Reality-based leadership practice…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher highlights the hypocrisy of organizations not asking applicants for feedback and why they should. Leadership often talks about the importance of feedback, including for applicants (successful or not) to ask for debriefs after their hiring experie…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with author, speaker and Chief Enthusiasm Officer Dr. Randy Ross on the importance of connecting values to employee retention. Randy shares his insights and experience in: Holistic employee experience Values and behaviour alignment. Ethical and aesthetic components of values. Alignment and auth…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher recommends we share our values publicly to build better connection. Knowing our values is vital to our self-awareness and in helping us make decisions and setting boundaries that help our career and our employee experience. But they are too valua…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with author and Clockwork founder Nancy Lyons on the positive and negative impacts employees can have on company culture. Nancy shares her insights and experience in: The power of microcultures and employee influence. Leadership's role in shaping culture. What an authentic work culture is and i…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher highlights the importance of prioritizing small gestures before big moments at work. Big events at work are great. It's an opportunity to bring everyone together, connect in new ways, hear from leadership, have presenters sharing new ideas. They'…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with HR professional and consultant Beverly Hathorn on managing and aligning subcultures in the workplace. She shares her thoughts, stories and experiences with... Subculture dynamics. Executive engagement with various work cultures. The importance of customizing engagement. Alignment and adapt…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher asks us to maintain relationships even through significant change. Change is a part of the work world, whether it's as big as a merger or reorganization of a company or as traditional as moving teams or getting a new job. Great leaders understand…
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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with speakers and workforce consultants Alex Schwartz and Nate Thompson on the impact AI will have on the employee experience. They share their thoughts, stories and experiences with... AI's role and adoption in work environments. AI as a tool, not a threat. The need for continuous adaption and…
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