We hear it all the time in leadership: “You can’t over-communicate.” But that’s not always true. In this solo episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher explores how too much communication can feel patronizing, overwhelming, or even damaging to trust. This episode looks at why great leadership communication isn’t about repetition for repetition’s sake—it’s about reading the room, understanding your audience, and adapting your message with intention. 

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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher talks with Karl Staib, founder of Systematic Leader, about why leadership needs more than good intentions. They explore how better systems shape habits, improve communication, strengthen accountability, and create healthier workplace cultures.

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.

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What if the way we measure leadership is completely off? 

In this solo episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher challenges the usual focus on KPIs, deadlines, and delivery—and asks what really matters. Trust, growth, values, and the impact we leave on people may be the real leadership scorecard.

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In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher speaks with Alejandra Ramirez, founder of Ready Cultures, about why internal communication often fails in organizations.

They discuss how misaligned messaging damages workplace culture, why clarity matters in leadership communication, and how Alejandra’s Head–Heart–Hands framework helps leaders communicate what’s happening, why it matters, and what teams should do next.

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.

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Most meetings focus on tasks, updates, and deadlines. Others focus on people, growth, and trust. Both are necessary—but they serve very different purposes.

In this solo episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher explores the difference between management meetings and leadership meetings, and why leaders need to be intentional about which one they’re running.

Management meetings help move the work forward.
Leadership meetings help move the people forward.

When leaders confuse the two, teams either lose clarity around execution or connection to purpose. But when meetings are designed with intention, they become powerful tools for both productivity and culture.

Russel also shares practical ways to define the purpose of your meetings, design agendas that match that purpose, and create the right balance between leadership and management over time.

Because meetings aren’t just calendar invites—they’re culture in real time.

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Leaders often complain about their teams — disengaged employees, poor performance, difficult conversations.

But what if the real issue isn’t the team?

In this episode, Russel sits down with leadership expert David Dilger to explore how leaders shape the behavior, performance, and culture of their teams — often without realizing it.

They discuss why avoiding tough conversations hurts everyone involved, how focusing on observable behaviors changes the way leaders manage performance, and why trust is built through consistent everyday interactions, not one big moment.

Because the truth is simple:
 The culture you experience as a leader is often the culture you’ve created.

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.
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Some of the most damaging leaders aren’t the obvious tyrants. They’re the ones celebrated on stages, praised in boardrooms, and admired on LinkedIn.

In this solo episode, Russel Lolacher explores how performative leadership can hide behind recognition, results, and a polished public image. He challenges leaders to look beyond awards and social media presence to examine the real impact leaders have on their teams.

Because leadership isn’t defined by the story a leader tells — it’s defined by the experience of the people they lead. 

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What if conflict isn’t the problem — but the engine of innovation?

In this episode, innovation expert Jeff DeGraff joins Russel to explore why adaptability isn’t about reacting to change — it’s about embracing ambiguity, practicing paradox, and creating constructive conflict inside your teams.

They discuss:

• Why over-alignment kills innovation
• The difference between reacting and adaptive thinking
• How small experiments build momentum
• Why culture isn’t a “thing” — it’s how leaders lead
• The role of vision in holding chaos together

If you’re leading through uncertainty, AI disruption, or organizational tension, this conversation reframes how real innovation actually happens.

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.
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Are you leading from values — or reacting to emotions?

 In this solo episode, Russel Lolacher explores why values must anchor workplace decisions, culture, and accountability. Empathy matters. But without clear values, leadership becomes mood management.

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Is workplace positivity building trust — or masking real problems?

In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher sits down with author Johanna Laurent to unpack the difference between authentic positivity and the kind that shuts people down.

They explore:

• Why leaders focus on what’s wrong instead of what’s working
• The self-work required before you can lead others well
• How to create space for honesty without sliding into negativity
• Why you can get results and build a great environment

This isn’t about pretending everything’s fine.

It’s about being honest in the light — and leading from there.

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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