Relationships at Work - a trust-driven leadership podcast

Hosted by Russel Lolacher

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Episodes

389

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

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.

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60 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 37252 min

Why Workplace Values Fail — And How Leaders Can Fix Them

In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher speaks with Yvonne Jackson about why workplace values should be practical decision-making tools—not aspirational words on a wall.They explore how leaders can connect values to behaviours, boundaries, accountability, and equity to create clearer team norms and better organizational decisions.And connect with me for more great content!Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on YoutubeFollow on LinkedinFollow on InstagramFollow me on ThreadsFollow on TikTokEmail me anytime

June 8, 2026Episode 37153 min

Stop Avoiding Emotions at Work

Emotions are already shaping the workplace, whether leaders acknowledge them or not.In this episode of Relationships at Work, host and leadership/communication expert Russel Lolacher talks with emotional intelligence leadership coach Jamelle Lindo about emotional empowerment, emotional avoidance, and why so many workplace challenges are emotion-based beneath the surface.Jamelle shares how leaders can build emotional self-awareness, strengthen team relationships, and create healthier cultures by learning to engage with emotions rather than suppress them.And connect with me for more great content!Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on YoutubeFollow on LinkedinFollow on InstagramFollow me on ThreadsFollow on TikTokEmail me anytime

June 1, 2026Episode 37056 min

Self-Understanding Is the Leadership Work

Leadership does not begin with strategy, authority, or knowing all the answers. It begins with understanding ourselves.In this episode of Relationships at Work, host and leadership expert Russel Lolacher is joined by Margaret Andrews, Harvard instructor, speaker, founder of The Milo Center, and author of Manage Yourself to Lead Others: Why Great Leadership Begins with Self-Understanding. Together, they explore why great leadership requires more than self-awareness — it requires a deeper understanding of the experiences, values, triggers, feedback, and patterns that shape how we show up.Margaret shares how leaders can better recognize their impact, reflect without spiralling into rumination, use feedback as a tool for growth, and understand the difference between adapting to a culture and losing themselves within it.Because if we want to lead others well, we first have to understand who we are, what shaped us, and who we are trying to become.And connect with me for more great content!Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on YoutubeFollow on LinkedinFollow on InstagramFollow me on ThreadsFollow on TikTokEmail me anytime

May 25, 2026Episode 36945 min

Why Great Performers Struggle to Become Great Leaders

In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher speaks with no-BS leadership coach and culture consultant Adrian Koehler about why great performers often struggle to become great leaders.Adrian explores the shift from doing the work to creating the conditions for others to succeed, including the risks of control, assumption-based leadership, unclear agreements, and avoiding hard conversations. A candid look at what changes when leadership stops being about proving yourself and starts being about generating results through people.And connect with me for more great content!Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on YoutubeFollow on LinkedinFollow on InstagramFollow me on ThreadsFollow on TikTokEmail me anytime

May 19, 2026Episode 36849 min

From Leadership to Teamship

What if leadership was never meant to be a solo act?In this episode of Relationships at Work, host and leadership/communication expert Russel Lolacher speaks with executive team coach, keynote speaker, author, and founder of Ferrazzi Greenlight, Keith Ferrazzi, about why the future of leadership depends less on individual authority and more on the strength of the team around us.Keith shares insights from his book Never Lead Alone: 10 Shifts from Leadership to Teamship, exploring why collaboration is not enough, how “co-elevation” pushes teams to raise each other’s performance, and why culture only changes when it is supported by real practices and processes. The conversation digs into psychological safety, candor, accountability, stress-testing ideas, and the social contracts that shape how teams actually work.This episode is a practical and provocative look at how leaders can stop carrying the burden alone — and start building teams that challenge, support, and refuse to let each other fail.And connect with me for more great content!Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on YoutubeFollow on LinkedinFollow on InstagramFollow me on ThreadsFollow on TikTokEmail me anytime

May 11, 2026Episode 36757 min

Purpose Isn’t a Poster on the Wall

In this episode of Relationships at Work, host and leadership expert Russel Lolacher speaks with business leader, speaker, CEO and author Rick Yvanovich on how purpose can help leaders and organizations navigate constant change.Rick shares why purpose is more than a goal, how the post-COVID workplace has reshaped our relationship with work, and why organizations need to make purpose real through clarity, equity, and action. The conversation explores hybrid work, generational expectations, personal values, and why leaders need to stop treating purpose as a slogan and start using it as a guide for better decisions.And connect with me for more great content!Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on YoutubeFollow on LinkedinFollow on InstagramFollow me on ThreadsFollow on TikTokEmail me anytime

May 7, 2026Episode 36610 min

When a Problem Isn’t a Challenge or An Opportunity

In this solo episode of Relationships at Work, host and leadership/communication expert Russel Lolacher explores why the words leaders use when things go wrong matter more than we think.A problem, challenge, and opportunity can all be useful terms — but they are not always interchangeable. Russel looks at how well-intended positivity can sometimes dilute urgency, dismiss employee reality, or create a culture where people feel they have to soften the truth.This episode is a reminder that trust-driven leadership is not about choosing the most optimistic word. It is about choosing the most accurate one — and helping teams move forward with honesty, clarity, and care.And connect with me for more great content!Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on YoutubeFollow on LinkedinFollow on InstagramFollow me on ThreadsFollow on TikTokEmail me anytime

May 4, 2026Episode 36543 min

How Leaders Build Employee Buy-In

What makes employees truly buy into their work, their team, and their organization?In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher talks with business strategist, leadership coach, and author Dave Garrison about what drives employee buy-in and why so many teams slide into disengagement. Dave shares why leaders often unintentionally shut people down, how curiosity and vulnerability create stronger connection, and what it takes to build a culture where people feel ownership, trust, and real commitment to the work.And connect with me for more great content!Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on YoutubeFollow on LinkedinFollow on InstagramFollow me on ThreadsFollow on TikTokEmail me anytime

April 30, 2026Episode 3648 min

Risk Aversion Is Not a Leadership Strategy

In this solo episode of Relationships at Work, host and leadership expert Russel Lolacher explores the difference between risk aversion and risk awareness — and why playing it safe can quietly damage trust, engagement, innovation, and culture.Russel shares how leaders can move beyond fear-based decision-making by asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and creating space for thoughtful experimentation. Because doing nothing is still a decision — and sometimes the riskiest one.And connect with me for more great content!Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on YoutubeFollow on LinkedinFollow on InstagramFollow me on ThreadsFollow on TikTokEmail me anytime

April 27, 2026Episode 36351 min

What Nature Teaches Us About Leadership

What if better leadership isn’t found in management books, but in nature itself?In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher talks with executive coach and author Kelly Wendorf about what leaders can learn from nature to build healthier teams and stronger workplace cultures. Drawing from her book Flying Lead Change, Kelly shares insights on trust, psychological safety, curiosity, conflict, and why thriving leadership may look more like ecosystems than hierarchies. A fresh perspective on moving from power over to power with leadership.And connect with me for more great content!Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on YoutubeFollow on LinkedinFollow on InstagramFollow me on ThreadsFollow on TikTokEmail me anytime