In this episode, Jason shares why he started this podcast and why he feels this work is more important than ever. He shares how he discovered that he’d become closed off to connection in some important ways and the steps he’s taken to “re-open” himself to it. He also shares a relationship lesson from his childhood–if you want better relationships you need to be willing to invest in them and be willing to make the first move. Then, he shares some practical tips for how you can apply these lessons to build better relationships at work.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 The necessity of being open to connection: It all starts with your willingness to engage and show curiosity about those around you.

👉 Recognizing the impact of relationships on workplace dynamics: Almost every workplace issue can be traced back to a relationship issue, making it crucial to nurture these connections.

👉 The role of work in societal healing: By teaching better relationship skills at work, we can elevate well-being, productivity, innovation, and overall satisfaction.

👉 Investing in relationships intentionally: Reach out to colleagues, suggest regular check-ins, and create meaningful moments over coffee or lunch.

👉 Implementing tools to foster connection: Use a "question of the day" in meetings to spark dialogue and understanding among team members.

***

Get access to the Relationship Reflection Exercise here: https://forms.gle/tSt34KguHL6iFHGH6

***

Episode sponsor:

Inspiring Workplaces

Join the free global community at https://www.inspiring-workplaces.com/

***

Jason Lauritsen is a dynamic keynote speaker and true thought leader in the world of work and employee engagement. He is dedicated to revolutionizing the way we Lead With Relationship™. He fearlessly challenges traditional norms to reshape the employee experience by consistently placing authentic human connection at the heart of leadership. Jason is the author of two books, Unlocking High Performance and Social Gravity.

***

Download the 18 Great Questions for Check-In Conversations cheat sheet here: https://www.checkintothrive.com/18-great-questions

If you'd like more content like this delivered straight to your email box, sign up for my email list here: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

***

Follow and connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonlauritsen

www.JasonLauritsen.com

"You think it's about love. It's love and your ability to navigate change, because that picture on the wedding cake, right? You're going to have job issues, kids, health issues, death, hopefully death in the proper order. How do you stay aligned?"

- Russell Robinson

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In this episode, we have some real talk about what it takes to have a good marriage and what we can learn from that about all relationships with guest, Russell Robinson. You’ll hear the phrase, “how you treat anybody is how you treat everybody” and discover what that means in terms of how we show up with other people. Finally, we talk about what it looks like to normalize healthy disagreement at work as a means to build connection within a team.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 The significance of being intentional and precious about your time to maintain authentic and respectful relationships.

👉 The parallel between coaching youth sports and workplace leadership, emphasizing the importance of trust, confidence, and availability.

👉 The transformative power of honesty and curiosity in building deeper relationships at work and beyond.

👉 Valuable strategies for leaders to normalize disagreement and welcome critique to enhance team dynamics.

👉 Practical tips for using probing questions, such as "What are you most proud of and why?" to understand colleagues' backgrounds and perspectives.

***

Dr. Russell Robinson is a Program Director and Professorial Lecturer within American University’s School of Public Administration (SPA). In these roles, he is the Director of the newly created Key Undergraduate Leadership Certificate Program. Russell teaches graduate- and certificate-level leadership and public administration within SPA and the Key Executive Leadership Program. Prior to joining American University, Russell spent over twenty years as a civil servant within the US Federal Government developing and delivering training solutions focusing on leadership and improving the workforce experience. In addition,

Russell is the Founder of Amplified Research and Consulting, LLC (Amplified Research), which focuses on research, analysis and consulting solutions regarding employee engagement, voice and silence, and talent management. Russell does organizational assessments, focus groups and culture-building coaching services.

Connect with Russell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-robinson-edd-4428b157/

Website: https://www.amplifiedresearch.com/

***

Get access to the Relationship Reflection Exercise here: https://forms.gle/tSt34KguHL6iFHGH6

***

Episode sponsor:

Inspiring Workplaces

Join the free global community at https://www.inspiring-workplaces.com/

***

Jason Lauritsen is a dynamic keynote speaker and true thought leader in the world of work and employee engagement. He is dedicated to revolutionizing the way we Lead With Relationship™. He fearlessly challenges traditional norms to reshape the employee experience by consistently placing authentic human connection at the heart of leadership. Jason is the author of two books, Unlocking High Performance and Social Gravity.

***

Download the 18 Great Questions for Check-In Conversations cheat sheet here: https://www.checkintothrive.com/18-great-questions

If you'd like more content like this delivered straight to your email box, sign up for my email list here: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

***

Follow and connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonlauritsen

www.JasonLauritsen.com

"It's okay to set a boundary to protect your own serenity if you need to, and you're valuable enough and you're worth it enough." - Lindsey Rai Kortan

***

In this episode, we delve into the complex relationship between trust, boundaries, and self-worth. Guest Lindsey Rai Kortan shares her journey of discovering that boundaries are really about protecting your serenity and honoring your own value and worth. She also shares stories of how trust is built and tested in relationships over time and the value of honoring your intuition.

👉 The importance of setting boundaries to protect oneself, not just in personal relationships but also in the workplace.

👉 Valuable advice for leaders on modeling vulnerability and how it can encourage employees to come forward with their own challenges, fostering a culture of trust and openness.

👉 Why you should trust your instincts in professional contexts.

👉 The transformational power of supportive relationships.

👉 Building trust through consistency and honesty. Consistency fosters dependability and integrity, which are essential for strong, successful professional bonds.

***

Lindsey Rai Kortan is the Chief Executive Officer for the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha. She is responsible for executing the strategic vision for the organization as it aligns with the mission. Lindsey Rai originally began working for the Ronald McDonald House as the Director of Development in 2012 and was appointed CEO nine months later. She brings with her a diverse professional background inclusive of academic administration, non-profit management, and environmental compliance.

Connect with Lindsey Rai:

Website: https://rmhcomaha.org/

Instagram: @LindseyRai

***

Get access to the Relationship Reflection Exercise here: https://forms.gle/tSt34KguHL6iFHGH6

***

Episode sponsor: Inspiring Workplaces

Join the free global community at https://www.inspiring-workplaces.com/

***

Jason Lauritsen is a dynamic keynote speaker and true thought leader in the world of work and employee engagement. He is dedicated to revolutionizing the way we Lead With Relationship™. He fearlessly challenges traditional norms to reshape the employee experience by consistently placing authentic human connection at the heart of leadership. Jason is the author of two books, Unlocking High Performance and Social Gravity.

***

Download the 18 Great Questions for Check-In Conversations cheat sheet here: https://www.checkintothrive.com/18-great-questions

If you'd like more content like this delivered straight to your email box, sign up for my email list here: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

***

Follow and connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonlauritsen

www.JasonLauritsen.com