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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.

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Today is the day!

Expanded and Updated "Connection Culture" Now at Amazon

Connection Culture 2nd Ed. Book Cover 3D

Today is the day! The second edition of Connection Culture is now available on Amazon. In the new edition, readers will discover updated research, diverse profiles of connection leaders, and actionable tips to apply connection in their lives, among other additional features.

While there is no “one-size-fits-all” culture in today’s increasingly diverse and global world, research supports that the strongest cultures share a high degree of human connection. The need for connection is more important now than ever before given that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing greater stress, loneliness, and isolation.

Discover the power of human connection and share it with your friends, family, and colleagues. The new edition is available for purchase at this link to Amazon.com.

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Connect to Protect Yourself from Harm of Social Isolation

Isolated businessman who is suffering from burnout

This excellent New York Times article, “We’re All Socially Awkward Now,” makes a compelling case that ongoing social isolation due to the physical separation required during the COVID-19 pandemic is diminishing connection skills and having a negative impact on emotional and physical health.

Research on isolation of inmates shows those who coped best understood that social isolation was not good for them. Instead, they intentionally connected with others by writing letters, etc.

How are you safely connecting with others throughout the pandemic?