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"As we learn to think the best of others, when we learn to become comfortable affirming them and when we become comfortable working for ways to serve them, then they respond and that connects us." - Mike Stallard

Today's Finding Brave guest is someone who has played a pivotal role in the support of my coaching career, and he is one of the most kind and generous people I know - a true mentor and giver at heart, and a perfect person to explore the themes of today's show. In this episode, we look at ways to help people cope with the current environment where stress, loneliness, social isolation, and its harmful consequences are all on the rise, and he reveals how boosting human connection can not only be an antidote at home, but in the workplace as well.

Michael Stallard is an author, keynote speaker, and workshop leader on how leaders create and maintain cultures of connection that help individuals, teams and organizations thrive for a sustained period of time. He is cofounder and president of Connection Culture Group, a leadership training and consulting firm. Michael's recent clients have included Costco, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Turner Construction, Qualcomm, U.S. Air Force, and Yale-New Haven Health. Texas Christian University founded the TCU Center for Connection Culture based on Michael's work.

Michael is the primary author of Connection Culture: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy and Understanding at Work, now in its 2nd edition, and Fired Up or Burned Out: How to Reignite Your Team's Passion, Creativity, and Productivity. Connection Culture was recently named one of the "best of the best" books by getAbstract. Michael also recently launched a popular online course with LinkedIn Learning titled Creating a Connection Culture.

In our conversation, shares his best tips and strategies for building and fostering connection, as a leader, manager, team member and individual contributor.

If you are struggling with stress and loneliness, please know you're not alone. Feel free to reach out to both Mike and myself, and we'll provide you with some resources to help support you through these challenging, ever-changing times.

To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.connectionculture.com/