Most people can spot dysfunction at work.

Bad bosses. Endless emergencies. Burnout masquerading as productivity.

But the harder question is this: what role do we play in it?

In this episode of Relationships at Work, author and executive leader Eric Charran joins Russel Lolacher to unpack how dysfunctional workplaces actually take hold — and why self-assessment is often the missing step in breaking the cycle.

They explore how leaders reward busyness instead of outcomes, why bad behaviors get normalized, and how managing up, setting boundaries, and understanding your own worth can protect your mental health without surrendering your agency.

This conversation isn’t about blame.
It’s about clarity, self-awareness, and figuring out what’s truly within your control — even when the system isn’t working.

Hey! If you're enjoying the insights from our guests, you'll love our R@W Notes Newsletter. It’s packed with guest takeaways, the resources that inspire them, and my own tips on how we as leaders can be better humans for the humans the are responsible for. Go to RelationshipsAtWorkShow.com and Subscribe Now and help the workplace be more human.

Want more from our conversations on the show? Subscribe to the R@W Notes Newsletter! It’s where I share top takeaways from our guests, the resources that fuel their success, and my personal insights on how we as leaders more human. And we need more human.
Go to RelationshipsAtWorkShow.com and Sign up today to keep your leadership journey on the right path.

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