By Michael Lee Stallard and Katharine P. Stallard
It is customary for your doctor to ask you how you are doing when he or she enters the exam room. We’ve come to expect it. Typically, it is the opening question in a conversation to assess how you are really doing. But how often do you ask your doctor the same question?
I had the privilege of contributing an article to this month’s issue of Training magazine. The article explains how organizations can train managers to create the best workplace cultures. These cultures boost human connection and maximize employee engagement, quality of decision making, productivity and innovation.
Much has been written about America’s loneliness epidemic, including in the workplace. The word “loneliness” in the work context is a misnomer. It doesn’t capture the whole story.
Recently, Kevin Kruse, host of the LEADx Leadership show podcast, featured a webinar I created with the LEADx team in one of the show’s episodes. Kevin is a New York Times bestselling author and Inc. 500 entrepreneur who providers listeners with advice from top leadership experts in a format suited for a busy professional’s daily commute.
Listen to the episode to learn more about why loneliness and connection matter to your career and how you can use connection to create an engaging culture that maximizes results.
Are you addicted to your smartphone? Do you feel the pull to constantly check your messages and news feeds?
Are you addicted to busyness? As soon as you accomplish something, do you immediately focus on the next task or problem to solve? Are you always thinking about what you have coming up and so it’s difficult to be present with and focused on interacting with others?
I believe it’s wise for leaders to develop their organizational culture by being intentional about strengthening the bonds of connection and trust among leaders and employees. As the president of a company that helps coach leaders on improving connections within their businesses, I have seen the importance of strengthening bonds and trust among team members.
There are three steps I’ve developed throughout my coaching practice that can help build strong connections within your organization.
It’s no secret that the right organizational culture can make companies more successful. That was the topic of conversation in a recent Manage 2 Win podcast hosted by Jeff and David Russell.
Listen as Katie Stallard and I describe what a Connection Culture is and how it helps companies to win in the full podcast episode.
My wife Katie and I recently interviewed with Doug Hensch, host of the Looking for And podcast. In the interview, we seek to answer why some organizations both consistently outperform their competitors AND serve as great places to work. We also share how Katie’s cancer journey influenced our thoughts on loneliness, resilience, and Connection Culture.
Listen to the episode and consider sharing it with a friend.
Sometimes life lessons come from surprising places. In early 2004, just nine months after completing treatment for breast cancer, my wife, Katie, was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. During the months that followed, I learned an important lesson about connection that influenced my perspective on how to approach organizational change.
I wrote about this lesson in an article published by SmartBrief. If you are navigating change in your organization or personal life, I hope this piece is an encouragement to you.
Workplaces are full of disconnected people. There are still far too many leaders who, consciously or unconsciously, allow cultures of control or indifference that are disengaging and stressful for those under them.