Relationships at Work - a trust-driven leadership podcast

We talk a lot about what leaders say — but rarely about where they say it.In this short episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher explores proxemics — the hidden language of personal space — and how distance, positioning, and physical presence quietly shape trust, power, and connection at work.From offices designed to elevate authority, to feedback conversations that unintentionally trigger defensiveness, this episode unpacks how space communicates long before words do. You’ll learn the four zones of proxemics, why they matter for leaders, and how even virtual settings carry unspoken spatial cues.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

Presence at work isn’t about performance — it’s about awareness.In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher talks with Ryan Carey, CEO of BetterOn, about what presence actually means in the workplace and why leaders often misunderstand it. They explore how self-awareness shapes trust, connection, and the employee experience — and why presence is a skill leaders can develop, not a personality trait.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. And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

Mentorship is everywhere in leadership conversations — yet many leaders still feel stuck without the guidance they actually need.In this solo mini-episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher explores why so many mentorship attempts fall flat, what truly makes a mentor valuable, and how to stop searching for advice that sounds good but doesn’t help you grow.If you’ve ever wondered why mentorship feels harder than it should, this episode is for you.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

Most organizations talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion at the executive level — or delegate it to HR.But that’s not where DEI actually succeeds or fails.In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel speaks with Jonathan Njus about why middle managers are the real linchpin of DEI efforts — and why so many initiatives stall once they reach the middle of the organization.Jonathan breaks down:Why middle managers quietly shape hiring, performance reviews, and team cultureHow DEI often fails because of language, not valuesWhy psychological safety must extend to leaders, not just employeesWhat inclusion looks like in everyday decisions, not training sessionsHow reframing DEI as building the best team changes engagement entirelyThis conversation moves beyond acronyms and politics and focuses on what actually drives inclusion at work: how leaders show up, how teams experience fairness, and how relationships either build trust — or quietly erode it.If you’re a middle manager, lead middle managers, or want culture change that actually sticks, this episode is for you.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. And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

Every leader has power—whether they acknowledge it or not.In this solo mini-episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher explores the often-overlooked reality of leadership influence and how even small words, actions, or moments of absence can leave a lasting imprint on people at work.Drawing from real leadership experiences and patterns he’s seen across hundreds of conversations, Russel breaks down why leadership impact is never neutral—and why intent doesn’t cancel out impact. From offhand comments to missed support, leaders shape trust, confidence, and culture in ways they may never see… but employees never forget.You’ll walk away with:A clearer understanding of how leadership power actually shows up day to dayWhy positive and negative leadership moments can echo for yearsPractical ways to reflect on your leadership impact and course-correct in real timeIf you lead people—or influence their experience at work—this episode is a reminder that leadership always leaves a mark. The question is whether you’re choosing it intentionally.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

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. And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

What happens when doing your job quietly turns into managing your boss’s ego?In this Relationships at Work mini-episode, Russel Lolacher unpacks the real damage caused by bootlicking cultures — where praise is safer than honesty, silence is rewarded over truth, and employees spend more energy protecting leaders than improving the work.Through a simple story and clear leadership reflections, this episode explores how fear-based leadership erodes psychological safety, engagement, trust, and culture — often without leaders even realizing it’s happening.You’ll also hear three practical leadership shifts that help move teams from ego maintenance to mutual respect — and from performance to real relationships at work.Because nobody was hired to be their boss’s emotional support human.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

Most leaders mean well. That doesn’t mean the impact lands well.In this episode of Relationships at Work, leadership coach and author Dr. Joel Pérez draws on insights from his book Dear White Leader to unpack why good intentions often fall apart at work — and what leaders miss about power, identity, and impact.A grounded conversation about how leadership actually shows up, especially when culture, trust, and accountability are tested.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. And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

Employee retention isn’t built with perks, programs, or forced fun.It’s built in the moments where leaders choose to listen, trust, and let teams be themselves.In this mini-episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher shares a simple Christmas decorating story that explains why his team stayed together for nearly 12 years — and why high retention is never an accident or a “unicorn.”This episode breaks down:Why autonomy matters more than engagement initiativesHow leaders accidentally push people away by enforcing conformityWhat retention really looks like in everyday leadership decisionsIf you’re serious about keeping good people — not just hiring them — this episode reframes what employee retention actually requires.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

Influence gets thrown around like a leadership buzzword — but most people misunderstand what it actually is. It’s not authority. It’s not persuasion. And it’s definitely not performance.In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel sits down with author and former CIO Brad Englert to unpack the real mechanics of influence inside organizations — the kind that builds trust, shifts culture, and turns critics into advocates.Brad shares stories from his career at Accenture and the University of Texas that reveal:Why influence is rooted in understanding goals, setting expectations, and genuinely caringHow culture change actually happens (and why it starts with consistency, not heroics)Why “haters” are often your best opportunity for relationship-buildingHow to map your influence — and who’s influencing youThe mindset leaders need before they can expect influence to workIf you want influence that lasts longer than your job title, this conversation shows you how to build it.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. And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime