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The Role Connection Plays in a Democracy

Lincoln memorial in Washington D.C.

Can we embrace the spirit of E Pluribus Unum and move forward in 2021 as people who value connection, cooperation and making progress together toward the common good? Whether your political leanings are toward the left, center or right, whether you identify as a conservative, moderate, progressive or liberal, the political divisiveness and social strife that marked 2020, and were on full display in the troubling events last week in Washington, D.C., underscore the need for cultures of connection to become the norm in our communities, workplaces and governing bodies. 

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Ours Was One of the “Most Read” Articles on SmartBrief

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I was delighted to learn that an article Katie Stallard and I wrote, titled “Why Relational Connection is So Important During the Coronavirus Pandemic,” was one of the most read articles on SmartBrief over this last year.

If you haven’t read it, you can find the full article here. Thank you for your support and for helping us to share the connection culture message!

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Exciting News About My Latest Book

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I am thrilled to share that two of the leading book summary organizations in the world – getAbstract and Soundview – have just published summaries of the second edition of my book Connection Culture: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy, and Understanding at Work. Even better, getAbstract rated the second edition as 9 out of 10 and it was selected as an “Editors’ Picks” representing one of the “best of the best”! In addition, Connection Culture is included in the Best Practice Institute’s Holiday Book Recommendations.

You can check out both of the summaries, as well as a Q&A interview with me published by the getAbstract team, at these links:

If the abstracts pique your interest, why not consider giving the book as a holiday gift this year – to yourself, a colleague, or a loved one who would benefit from the message? You can purchase the paperback or audio book edition through Amazon or find the paperback at other retailers.

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A Year-End Gift to My Readers

LinkedIn Learning Course Access

Person holding up a small wrapped present

To close out what has been an unpredictable and challenging year for all of us, I’d like to present you with a gift—one that, like many things during the Covid-19 pandemic, has taken twists and turns in the making, including a timetable that changed more than once. 2020 has been a year that has asked all of us to be adaptable and open to new ways of going about life. Case in point, the LinkedIn Learning course that the Connection Culture Group team is so pleased to share with those of you who are LinkedIn members. 

“GovExec Daily: Fostering a Culture of Connection in the Workplace”
by Adam Butler, Ross Gianfortune, and Michael Lee Stallard

GovExec Daily
October 16, 2020

Recently, I had the pleasure of being a guest on the GovExec Daily podcast produced by Government Executive. We talked about how government leaders can foster a culture of connection for a better work environment and better results, even in the pandemic.

If you or someone you know works in the public sector, I hope this podcast sparks some ideas on how to make a positive impact in your workplace during a difficult time.

“Michael Stallard Shares Update on Latest Book With Pat Farnack”
by WCBS Newsradio 880

Health & Wellbeing with Pat Farnack

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed again by Pat Farnack, longtime radio host on WCBS Newsradio 880 in New York City. In our conversation, we talked about what’s included in the latest edition of Connection Culture, why connection is so important in helping us cope with stress, and examples of great connectors in real life.

Click to listen to the full interview.

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Lessons on Connection from the Life of RBG

Ruth Bader Ginsburg receiving LBJ foundation award

Are you struggling to connect with a coworker, neighbor, or family member with whom you find yourself disagreeing frequently this year? Consider borrowing some connection tips on interacting with people in spite of the differences between you from the example of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Politics aside, there is much to admire about Justice Ginsburg—her perseverance in overcoming obstacles, her commitment to the cause of equality for women and men, and her tremendous work ethic, even while undergoing treatment for cancer in her 80s. After a noteworthy career as an attorney preparing and arguing important legal cases, Ginsburg served in the federal judiciary for forty years, first as an appellate judge and then as the second woman to be appointed as an associate justice on the Supreme Court. 

I want to briefly focus on four lessons related to connection that we can learn from her years as a judge.