This is part 4 of a 4-part series on reputation management with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders. Each episode explores a different theme—clarity, self-awareness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.

Culture is shaped by what leaders do—not what’s written on the walls. In this culture-focused conversation, Charlotte Otter joins Russel Lolacher to explore how reputation exposes the health of workplace culture. From social media transparency to unwritten norms and cross-functional relationships, they discuss the reputational risks leaders face when they don’t match their messaging with their behavior.

✅ How culture and reputation are interconnected
 ✅ Why unwritten norms influence perception
 ✅ Managing reputation during change and missteps
 ✅ The role of consistency and communication in culture-building

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This is part 3 of a 4-part series on reputation management with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders. Each episode explores a different theme—clarity, self-awareness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.

Reputation isn’t built behind closed doors—it’s forged in everyday moments with your team. In this episode, Charlotte Otter shares how leaders gain or lose trust through their behavior, and how a bad reputation can create a fear-based culture that kills innovation. Together with Russel Lolacher, she breaks down how psychological safety, vulnerability, and honest feedback are essential for leadership success.

✅ How fear damages culture
 ✅ Why vulnerability is key to recovery
 ✅ Leading with consistency and empathy
 ✅ What your team actually remembers

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This is part 2 of a 4-part series on reputation management with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders. Each episode explores a different theme—clarity, self-awareness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.

Before you manage your reputation—know yourself. In this episode, Russel Lolacher and Charlotte Otter explore how self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and personal responsibility form the foundation of a strong leadership reputation. Drawing from Charlotte’s work with executive clients and her book We Need New Leaders, they discuss why personal brand, inner work, and behavioral alignment are essential for leadership growth.

✅ Why self-audit is difficult but necessary
 ✅ The impact of therapy, coaching, and lived experience
 ✅ How triggers and empathy shape leadership reputation
 ✅ What personal brand has to do with your career

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This is part 1 of a 4-part series on reputation management with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders. Each episode explores a different theme—clarity, self-awareness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.

What is reputation in the workplace—and how should leaders define and manage it?
In this clarity-focused episode, Russel Lolacher speaks with Charlotte Otter, reputation strategist and author of We Need New Leaders, to uncover the fundamentals of reputation management. From the definition used by scholars to the realities of perception, this episode breaks down the importance of consistency, narrative, and trust for every leader.

✅ What reputation is (and isn’t)
 ✅ How perception drives opportunity
 ✅ Why leaders need clarity on their narrative
 ✅ The role of values and the “say-do” gap

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Unseen. Unheard. Unappreciated.

It’s the feeling behind the sighs, the silence, and the sudden sick days. And according to research, it’s one of the top reasons employees leave.

In this replay episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher explores the all-too-common experience of feeling undervalued at work—and the leadership blind spots that let it happen. Backed by Gallup and Workhuman data, he shares the nine warning signs that your employees may not feel seen or supported, from subtle disengagement to visible burnout.

You’ll learn:

• What behaviours signal an employee feels disconnected or dismissed
• Why “quiet quitting” might be more about leadership than laziness
• How under-recognition is a silent killer of retention and trust
• What actions leaders can take to reestablish connection and care

This episode is a call to stop missing what’s right in front of us—and start leading with intention before it's too late.

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Conflict doesn’t always show up as yelling matches or angry emails. Sometimes it’s silence in a meeting, a passive-aggressive Slack message, or the word “fine” said through gritted teeth. 

In this replay episode of Relationships at Work, we’re digging into the real roots of workplace conflict—and how to better recognize, prevent, and resolve it.

I’m joined by Carol Bowser, a workplace conflict expert, mediator, speaker, and former employment lawyer who’s spent decades helping organizations navigate tough conversations. Together, we explore how conflict lives in hybrid and remote work environments, why “win-win” might set the wrong expectations, and how leaders can read the emotional room—even when it’s on Zoom.

You’ll learn:

• Why trust breaks down before conflict shows up
• How power dynamics and organizational culture shape tension
• The one question every leader should be asking to avoid conflict escalation
• What it actually means to resolve conflict (spoiler: it’s not always kumbaya)

If you’ve ever struggled to address tension on your team, felt unsure about when to step in—or stepped in too late—this episode is your leadership toolkit for navigating the uncomfortable with more clarity and connection.

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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In this solo episode, host Russel Lolacher shares a personal and pivotal shift in the Relationships at Work podcast—introducing a new episode format designed to better serve leaders who want to improve workplace culture, build meaningful connections, and avoid leadership blind spots.

You’ll learn the why behind the change, how the show has evolved from a simple curiosity into a transformative leadership resource, and what to expect going forward:
✔️ Four themed episodes each week—Clarity, Relationship with Self, Relationship with Team, and Organizational Culture
✔️ Bite-sized leadership insights you can actually use
✔️ Friday solo episodes with mindset nudges to reflect and recharge

If you’ve ever asked, “What does leadership really look like day to day?”—this episode is for you.

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Leadership can be isolating—even when you're constantly surrounded by people. 

In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher speaks with licensed psychologist, executive coach, and TEDx speaker Dr. Adam Dorsay, author of Super Psyched: Unleash the Power of the Four Types of Connection and Live the Life You Love.

They explore why loneliness in leadership is so common, how disconnection silently affects workplace culture, and what organizations can do to foster genuine human connection at work.

Dr. Dorsay brings insights from neuroscience, psychology, and his own work with executives and tech professionals to break down the four types of connection—and how self-connection forms the foundation for psychological safety, belonging, and trust on teams.

🔍 In this episode:

• Why being surrounded by coworkers doesn’t prevent loneliness
• How vulnerability (not oversharing) creates real intimacy at work
• What leaders can do to build stronger, human-centered workplaces
• The danger of ignoring connection as a cultural value
• Why quiet quitting and disengagement are often symptoms of disconnection
• The science behind awe, self-compassion, and relationship-building

Whether you're a senior executive, team lead, or just trying to feel more seen and supported at work, this episode will help you understand why connection is more than a buzzword—it's a business-critical skill.

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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Leadership can be incredibly lonely—especially when the people above you aren’t actually leading. 

In this solo episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher explores the hidden loneliness of good leaders and what to do when you're surrounded by hierarchy, but not support.

You'll hear:

• Why great leaders often feel disconnected in toxic or stagnant systems
• The toll of misaligned leadership expectations on mental health
• Why building community sideways—not just upward—is essential
• Three actionable ways to build or find your leadership network

If you're a people-first leader frustrated by the lack of leadership around you, this episode is your reminder: you're not alone—and your leadership community may be closer than you think.

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Becoming a leader for the first time can feel like being dropped into the deep end—especially in a remote or hybrid world. 

In this episode of Relationships at Work, principle of The Collective Good LLC Britt Hogue joins Russel Lolacher to explore what new leaders often get wrong, and how intentional leadership can build trust and team connection, even when everyone’s not in the same room.

They discuss:

• How remote work exposes lazy leadership habits
• Why relationship-building must be intentional
• What new leaders should prioritize in their first 90 days
• How culture starts with consistent action, not just messaging

💬 “If you’re just sitting in your office all day, that’s not leadership.”

Whether you're new to leadership or supporting someone who is, this episode will give you practical tools and a new perspective on what it takes to succeed in today’s workplace.

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.

And connect with me for more great content!

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