Relationships at Work - a trust-driven leadership podcast

Russel Lolacher
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Relationships at Work - the leadership podcast helping you build workplace connection, improve culture, and avoid blind spots. A relatable and honest show on leadership, organizational culture and soft skills, focusing on improving  employee engagement and company culture to inspire people to apply, stay and thrive. Because no one wants leadership that fosters toxic environments at work, nor should they.Host, speaker and communications leader Russel Lolacher shares his experience and insights, discussing the leadership and corporate culture topics that matter with global experts help us with the success of our organizations (regardless of industry). This show will give you the information, education, strategies and tips you need to avoid leadership blind spots, better connect with all levels of our organization, and develop the necessary soft skills that are essential to every organization.From leadership development and training to employee satisfaction to diversity, inclusivity, equity and belonging to personalization and engagement... there are so many aspects and opportunities to build great relationships at workThis is THE place to start and nurture our leadership journey and create an amazing workplace. 

  1. 3D AGO

    Leadership Isn’t Neutral: Understanding the Power You Hold

    Every leader has power—whether they acknowledge it or not. In this solo mini-episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher explores the often-overlooked reality of leadership influence and how even small words, actions, or moments of absence can leave a lasting imprint on people at work. Drawing from real leadership experiences and patterns he’s seen across hundreds of conversations, Russel breaks down why leadership impact is never neutral—and why intent doesn’t cancel out impact. From offhand comments to missed support, leaders shape trust, confidence, and culture in ways they may never see… but employees never forget. You’ll walk away with: A clearer understanding of how leadership power actually shows up day to dayWhy positive and negative leadership moments can echo for yearsPractical ways to reflect on your leadership impact and course-correct in real timeIf you lead people—or influence their experience at work—this episode is a reminder that leadership always leaves a mark. The question is whether you’re choosing it intentionally. 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

    9 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Are We Part of the Problem at Work?

    Most people can spot dysfunction at work. Bad bosses. Endless emergencies. Burnout masquerading as productivity. But the harder question is this: what role do we play in it? In this episode of Relationships at Work, author and executive leader Eric Charran joins Russel Lolacher to unpack how dysfunctional workplaces actually take hold — and why self-assessment is often the missing step in breaking the cycle. They explore how leaders reward busyness instead of outcomes, why bad behaviors get normalized, and how managing up, setting boundaries, and understanding your own worth can protect your mental health without surrendering your agency. This conversation isn’t about blame.  It’s about clarity, self-awareness, and figuring out what’s truly within your control — even when the system isn’t working. 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

    1 hr

  3. 12/25/2025

    When Managing Your Boss Becomes the Job

    What happens when doing your job quietly turns into managing your boss’s ego? In this Relationships at Work mini-episode, Russel Lolacher unpacks the real damage caused by bootlicking cultures — where praise is safer than honesty, silence is rewarded over truth, and employees spend more energy protecting leaders than improving the work. Through a simple story and clear leadership reflections, this episode explores how fear-based leadership erodes psychological safety, engagement, trust, and culture — often without leaders even realizing it’s happening. You’ll also hear three practical leadership shifts that help move teams from ego maintenance to mutual respect — and from performance to real relationships at work. Because nobody was hired to be their boss’s emotional support human. 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

    9 min

  4. 12/22/2025

    When Leaders Mean Well — and Still Get It Wrong

    Most leaders mean well.  That doesn’t mean the impact lands well. In this episode of Relationships at Work, leadership coach and author Dr. Joel Pérez draws on insights from his book Dear White Leader to unpack why good intentions often fall apart at work — and what leaders miss about power, identity, and impact. A grounded conversation about how leadership actually shows up, especially when culture, trust, and accountability are tested. 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

    1 hr

  5. 12/19/2025

    What a Christmas Table Taught Me About Employee Retention

    Employee retention isn’t built with perks, programs, or forced fun. It’s built in the moments where leaders choose to listen, trust, and let teams be themselves. In this mini-episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher shares a simple Christmas decorating story that explains why his team stayed together for nearly 12 years — and why high retention is never an accident or a “unicorn.” This episode breaks down: Why autonomy matters more than engagement initiativesHow leaders accidentally push people away by enforcing conformityWhat retention really looks like in everyday leadership decisionsIf you’re serious about keeping good people — not just hiring them — this episode reframes what employee retention actually requires. 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

    9 min

  6. 12/15/2025

    How Influence Really Works at Work

    Influence gets thrown around like a leadership buzzword — but most people misunderstand what it actually is. It’s not authority. It’s not persuasion. And it’s definitely not performance. In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel sits down with author and former CIO Brad Englert to unpack the real mechanics of influence inside organizations — the kind that builds trust, shifts culture, and turns critics into advocates. Brad shares stories from his career at Accenture and the University of Texas that reveal: Why influence is rooted in understanding goals, setting expectations, and genuinely caringHow culture change actually happens (and why it starts with consistency, not heroics)Why “haters” are often your best opportunity for relationship-buildingHow to map your influence — and who’s influencing youThe mindset leaders need before they can expect influence to workIf you want influence that lasts longer than your job title, this conversation shows you how to build it. 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

    50 min

  7. 12/11/2025

    Fixing the Leadership Blame Game

    It’s easy to blame a leader. They’re visible. They’re the face of decisions. They’re the ones we point to when work feels confusing, frustrating, or overwhelming. But what if the problem isn’t just the leader—what if it’s the system that shaped them? In this mini-episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher breaks down the real reason so many leaders struggle: they were never given the clarity, tools, or support to lead well in the first place. Drawing from the R@W Note newsletter, Russel explores how organizations unintentionally set leaders up to fail—and what we can do instead. You’ll learn: Why blaming individual leaders keeps us stuckThe missing definitions that derail leadership expectationsThe danger of promoting high performers without preparationHow real feedback loops help leaders actually growWhat it takes to build leadership ecosystems that support everyoneIf you want better leaders, better culture, and fewer leadership blind spots, this episode gives you a new lens—and practical steps—to start fixing the blame game for good. 🎧 Listen now to rethink how leadership is built, supported, and sustained. 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

    12 min

  8. 12/08/2025

    Soul Health at Work: The Missing Layer of Leadership

    We talk a lot about mental health and physical wellbeing at work — but almost never about the part of ourselves that drives meaning, connection, energy, and authenticity.  Enter soul health. In this episode of Relationships at Work, founder and CEO of Quantum Sense Pam Buchanan joins me to unpack why so many employees still feel unseen and unfulfilled, even in workplaces overflowing with perks. We explore why leaders default to ego-driven decisions, how energy (not time) shapes performance, and what it looks like to create environments where people feel valued at a deeper level. Together, we dig into: what “soul health” actually means and why it’s not about religionhow to spot when your soul is depleted (and what to do about it)practical ways leaders can support teams beyond mind + bodyhow small sensory shifts can transform workplace culturewhy bringing your whole self doesn’t mean bringing everythingIf you’ve ever felt like something important is still missing in your work or leadership, this conversation might be the piece you’ve been searching for. 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

    54 min
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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Relationships at Work - the leadership podcast helping you build workplace connection, improve culture, and avoid blind spots. A relatable and honest show on leadership, organizational culture and soft skills, focusing on improving  employee engagement and company culture to inspire people to apply, stay and thrive. Because no one wants leadership that fosters toxic environments at work, nor should they.Host, speaker and communications leader Russel Lolacher shares his experience and insights, discussing the leadership and corporate culture topics that matter with global experts help us with the success of our organizations (regardless of industry). This show will give you the information, education, strategies and tips you need to avoid leadership blind spots, better connect with all levels of our organization, and develop the necessary soft skills that are essential to every organization.From leadership development and training to employee satisfaction to diversity, inclusivity, equity and belonging to personalization and engagement... there are so many aspects and opportunities to build great relationships at workThis is THE place to start and nurture our leadership journey and create an amazing workplace. 

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