Relationships at Work - the leadership podcast helping you build workplace connection, improve culture, and avoid blind spots.
Relationships at Work - the leadership podcast helping you build workplace connection, improve culture, and avoid 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 leadership and corporate culture topics that matter with global experts help us with the success of our organizations (regardless of industry). This show will give you the information, education, strategies and tips you need to avoid leadership blind spots, better connect with all levels of our organization, and develop the necessary soft skills that are essential to every organization.
From leadership development and training to employee satisfaction to diversity, inclusivity, equity and belonging to personalization and engagement... there are so many aspects and opportunities to build great relationships at work
This is THE place to start and nurture our leadership journey and create an amazing workplace.
Episodes
281 episodes
Leadership Starts with Self-Reflection
Leadership isn’t a title—it’s an inner journey. In this Relationships at Work episode, Kyle McDowell shares why self-reflection is the essential first step to leading with integrity and impact. We talk about ego, self-aware...
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Episode 270
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20:31
What Is Principle-Based Leadership?
What is principle-based leadership—and how is it different from values or mission statements? In this episode of Relationships at Work, Kyle McDowell, bestselling author of Begin With We, shares how leaders can gai...
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Episode 269
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11:19
Why Workplace Connection Fails — And How Leaders Can Fix It
This is part 1 of 6 of our Workhuman LIVE series. In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher is joined by workplace culture and leadership expert Jason Lauritsen to explore the real obstacles lead...
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Episode 268
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35:33
The Say-Do Gap: What Reputation Reveals About Your Culture
This is part 4 of a 4-part series on reputation management with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders. Each episode explores a different theme—clarity, self-awareness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.Culture is sha...
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Episode 267
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16:41
How Leaders Earn (or Erode) Reputation with Their Teams
This is part 3 of a 4-part series on reputation management with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders. Each episode explores a different theme—clarity, self-awareness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.Reputation isn...
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Episode 266
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11:39
Reputation Starts with You: Self-Awareness in Leadership
This is part 2 of a 4-part series on reputation management with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders. Each episode explores a different theme—clarity, self-awareness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.Before you man...
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Episode 265
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12:01
What Reputation Really Means at Work (and Why It Matters for Leaders)
This is part 1 of a 4-part series on reputation management with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders. Each episode explores a different theme—clarity, self-awareness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.What is
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Episode 264
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21:00
Warning Signs Your Employees Don’t Feel Valued
Unseen. Unheard. Unappreciated.It’s the feeling behind the sighs, the silence, and the sudden sick days. And according to research, it’s one of the top reasons employees leave.In this replay episode of Relationships at Work
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9:21
How Leaders Can Prevent and Navigate Conflict at Work
Conflict doesn’t always show up as yelling matches or angry emails. Sometimes it’s silence in a meeting, a passive-aggressive Slack message, or the word “fine” said through gritted teeth. In this replay episode of Relationships ...
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46:21
Why the Relationships at Work Podcast Is Evolving (And What That Means for You)
In this solo episode, host Russel Lolacher shares a personal and pivotal shift in the Relationships at Work podcast—introducing a new episode format designed to better serve leaders who want to improve workplace culture, build meaningf...
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Episode 263
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9:43
Why Leaders Feel Lonely at Work — And What to Do About It
Leadership can be isolating—even when you're constantly surrounded by people. In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher speaks with licensed psychologist, executive coach, and TEDx speaker Dr. Adam Dors...
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Episode 262
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52:01
Why Great Leaders Feel Alone – And How to Find Community
Leadership can be incredibly lonely—especially when the people above you aren’t actually leading. In this solo episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher explores the hidden loneliness of good leaders and what to do ...
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Episode 261
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8:02
How New Leaders Can Lead With Intention and Build Culture
Becoming a leader for the first time can feel like being dropped into the deep end—especially in a remote or hybrid world. In this episode of Relationships at Work, principle of The Collective Good LLC Britt Hogue jo...
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Episode 260
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47:52
Why Great Leaders Rely on Nuance—Not Just Labels Like 'Toxic'
It’s easy to label. It’s harder to understand.“Our culture is toxic.” “That leader is horrible.” “This system is broken.”But are they? Or are we missing the nuance and context that give us the real story?
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Episode 259
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8:50
Old World Wisdom for Modern Leadership w/ Fabrice Desmarescaux
In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher welcomes Fabrice Desmarescaux — McKinsey partner, leadership advisor, and author of The Art of Retreats — to explore how ancient wisdom can help solve very ...
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Episode 258
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52:19
Workhuman LIVE Insights on Leadership, DEI, AI, and Resiliency
At Workhuman LIVE, experts and thought leaders shared practical insights on the future of work—uncovering hidden potential, redefining psychological safety, and building resilient teams equipped for change. In this episode of Re...
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Episode 257
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18:59
The Lost Art of Handwritten Leadership w/ Amy Weinland Daughters
In this episode of Relationships at Work, we’re diving into the almost-forgotten power of handwritten communication with Amy Weinland Daughters, award-winning author of Dear Dana and passionate advocate for intentional ...
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Episode 256
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39:27
Talking Isn’t Doing: Why Leadership Needs More Than Words
We’ve all heard it before—promises of change, assurances of action, and commitments to improvement from leaders. But too often, words are mistaken for progress. In this episode of Relationships at Work, we’re diving into th...
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Episode 255
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7:38
Systemizing Inclusion for Lasting Change w/ Inclusion Strategist Amri B. Johnson
In this episode of Relationships at Work, I sit down with Amri B. Johnson, executive advisor, organizational consultant, and founder of Inclusion Wins, to explore what it truly means to systemize inclusion. We break down his Eme...
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Episode 254
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49:41
Expectation vs. Reality: Leading When Leadership Is Missing
When we show up to work, we bring expectations—with how we’ll be treated, how we’ll grow, and how we’ll be led. But what happens when the person responsible for our development… isn’t really a leader at all? In this solo episode of Relation...
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Episode 253
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10:46
Why Leaders Need Neuro-Fitness: Building Regulation and Real Impact w/ Mallory Meyer
What does it mean to be a neuro-fit leader? In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher is joined by trauma-sensitive, polyvagal-informed leadership and neuro coach Mallory Meyer to unpack the real...
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Episode 252
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41:33
Six Hard Truths About Leadership (After 250 Episodes of Relationships at Work)
After 250 episodes of exploring leadership, workplace culture, and the human side of work, certain truths just won’t stay quiet. In this solo episode, host Russel Lolacher reflects on the six most consistent, hard-earned lessons tha...
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Episode 251
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12:40
How Leaders Can Spark Purpose and Inspiration at Work w/ Dr. Alise Cortez
urpose isn’t a poster on the wall — it’s an everyday practice. In this episode of Relationships at Work, Dr. Alise Cortez joins Russel Lolacher to explore how leaders can move beyond surface-level engagement and truly i...
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Episode 250
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45:37
Flip the Script: What’s Your Five-Year Plan for Me?
We’ve all heard the classic career question: “What’s your five-year plan?” But in this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher flips it on its head—asking leaders to consider their five-year plan for...
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Episode 249
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6:30
Leading Through Complexity: Rewriting the Narrative of Work w/ Graham Abbey
What if the way we talk about work is limiting how we lead it?In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher sits down with Graham Abbey—Chief Executive of Farleigh Performance and Professor in Practice at the Un...
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Episode 248
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47:22