Relationships at Work - a trust-driven leadership podcast

We’ve been taught that being busy means being successful — but what if it’s actually holding us back? In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher talks with performance optimization expert and author Peggy Sullivan about how to escape “time poverty” and achieve more by doing less.Peggy shares how leaders can recognize the traps of constant hustle, eliminate low-value activities, and replace them with purpose-driven priorities. From tackling meeting overload to setting better boundaries and aligning time with values, this conversation offers practical steps to shift from burnout to balance — and from busyness to true productivity.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

You’ve heard it before — “let your results speak for themselves.” But in reality, results don’t talk — you do. In this solo episode, Relationships at Work host Russel Lolacher breaks down why staying silent about your success can stall your career and how communicating your impact with clarity, alignment, and presence helps leadership truly see your value.Russel shares actionable ways to advocate for yourself and your team:Align with leadership priorities so your wins connect to what matters most.Tell a story with your data that answers “why should leadership care?”Show up where it counts — from one-on-one meetings to leadership briefings.If you’ve ever felt overlooked or under-valued despite great results, this episode is your reminder: hard work doesn’t guarantee recognition — but smart communication can.🎧 Listen to learn how to speak up for your results and get the recognition your work deserves.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

Accountability in leadership isn’t about blame — it’s about ownership.In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher talks with leadership expert Michael Timms on how great leaders inspire accountability by modeling it first. Together they explore how to move beyond micromanagement, empower teams through clarity, and build trust that fuels performance.You’ll learn how to:Redefine accountability as ownership, not punishment.Model accountability to inspire your team.Build a culture where people take pride in results.Michael Timms is the author of How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability: Three Habits That Make or Break Leaders and Elevate Organizational Performance.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

We talk a lot about the importance of taking breaks — but how do you know when you’ve actually had one?In this solo episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher shares what happened when he took a real pause from creating, producing, and strategizing — not because he stopped caring, but because he cared too much to keep going unsustainably.Through small grounding habits, reflection, and honest self-checks, Russel explores what it means to step away with intention — and how to return with clarity instead of clutter.Because a true break isn’t just time away from work — it’s reconnection with who you are outside of it.If you’ve been feeling the pull to slow down or the guilt that comes with it, this episode is your reminder that rest is leadership.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 think their organizational problems are structural — that if they just rearrange the boxes on the org chart, everything will flow better. But as organizational design consultant and executive coach Susannah Robinson explains, that’s rarely the real issue.In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher and Susannah break down what organizational design actually means — and how it connects directly to leadership behavior, culture, and employee experience.Together, they explore:Why most “structure problems” are really leadership and communication problemsHow to align your strategy, values, and design so your people can actually succeedThe difference between managing intent vs. managing impact as a leaderHow ego and fear of change block healthy redesignsWhat real accountability and trust look like when teams restructureWhether you’re leading a department, a small business, or an entire organization, this conversation will help you see organizational design as a relationship practice — not a chart exercise.🎙️ Featuring: Susannah Robinson, Executive Coach, Organizational Design Consultant, President of Partnership for Talent, and author of Beyond the Boxes and Lines: Transforming Business Results Through Organizational Design.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

Originally released: June, 2024In 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 continue to grow and fester. Cultural debt is the same in that organizational issues unaddressed or avoided, will just poison the company little by little over time until it's not something that can be fixed anymore. Russel provides examples of how we invest in cultural debt and the areas we can pay attention to to avoid it. Join us as we discuss. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and share with others.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

Originally released: August, 2024What 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 ethics around the norms of the dominant culture. This is a barrier to diversity and innovation, while promoting uniformity. Let's be respectful instead.Russel shares real world examples of what we can do as leaders to encourage a respectful workplace and remove the roadblocks associated with being professional. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and share with others.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

Originally released: April, 2024In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher showcases common resistances to change at work and how leaders can avoid these pitfalls.   Change is a constant in the workplace, but so is resistance to it. The success and failure of change will be found in how leadership introduces, leads, implements and follows up on that change, and in how they respect what's come before. Russel shares five common pitfalls that leaders encounter when implementing change and ways in which we can think differently in how we approach them. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and share with others.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

Originally released: January, 2025Ever felt like you’re "babysitting" your team instead of leading them? You’re not alone. Many leaders hit a point of frustration, but that feeling is a signal—an opportunity for reflection and growth. In this episode, we explore why some leaders feel this way, what it says about their leadership approach, and, most importantly, how to shift from micromanaging to mentoring. Learn actionable steps to empower your team, foster accountability, and redefine your leadership mindset. Because great leadership isn’t about control—it’s about trust, coaching, and clarity.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

Originally released: May, 2024In 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 valuable to keep to ourselves. Share them. With everyone. It'll benefit us as leaders, our teams and the organization. Russel provides real-world examples of what sharing our values looks like and the many benefits to doing so to help our teams be more innovative, productive and inclusive. Join us as we discuss. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and share with others.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