In this special episode of Better Relationships: Better Work, I am joined by my wife Angie. Together, we discuss what lessons we’ve learned through 20 years of marriage about making a relationship work.

We explore how mutual respect and trust are the foundation of the relationship and the vital role of listening has played in laying that foundation. We also discuss what it means to fully accept someone, always assuming positive intentions from the other person. And, as a bonus, Angie shares what she’s learned about relationships through her career in politics, needing to build connection with those who may have very different beliefs and values.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 Fostering trust through mutual respect and prioritizing relationships over winning arguments.

👉 Building a foundation of effective communication and understanding early on to align on significant issues.

👉 Embracing active listening and having open conversations about difficult topics without judgment.

👉 Learning not to internalize personal attacks, attributing them to others' issues rather than your own.

👉 Trusting your instincts and valuing the power of compassion.

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“See a need, fill a need” has been Angie Lauritsen’s motto for decades and that is how she leads in her community. Her leadership has included serving on the Gretna City Council, running for state legislature, founding Gretna Hometown Heros, and being a fierce advocate for survivors and children. Angie is the State Director for Nebraska For Us, a non-profit focused on federal economic policy that affects hardworking Nebraskans.

Connect with Angie:

X: https://x.com/AngieLauritsen

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-lauritsen-23475752/

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Get access to the Relationship Reflection Exercise here: https://forms.gle/tSt34KguHL6iFHGH6

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Episode sponsor:

Inspiring Workplaces

Join the free global community at https://www.inspiring-workplaces.com/

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Jason Lauritsen is a dynamic keynote speaker and true thought leader in the world of work and employee engagement. He is dedicated to revolutionizing the way we Lead With Relationship™. He fearlessly challenges traditional norms to reshape the employee experience by consistently placing authentic human connection at the heart of leadership. Jason is the author of two books, Unlocking High Performance and Social Gravity.

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Download the 18 Great Questions for Check-In Conversations cheat sheet here: https://www.checkintothrive.com/18-great-questions

If you'd like more content like this delivered straight to your email box, sign up for my email list here: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

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Follow and connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonlauritsen

www.JasonLauritsen.com

In this episode, Jason shares why he started this podcast and why he feels this work is more important than ever. He shares how he discovered that he’d become closed off to connection in some important ways and the steps he’s taken to “re-open” himself to it. He also shares a relationship lesson from his childhood–if you want better relationships you need to be willing to invest in them and be willing to make the first move. Then, he shares some practical tips for how you can apply these lessons to build better relationships at work.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 The necessity of being open to connection: It all starts with your willingness to engage and show curiosity about those around you.

👉 Recognizing the impact of relationships on workplace dynamics: Almost every workplace issue can be traced back to a relationship issue, making it crucial to nurture these connections.

👉 The role of work in societal healing: By teaching better relationship skills at work, we can elevate well-being, productivity, innovation, and overall satisfaction.

👉 Investing in relationships intentionally: Reach out to colleagues, suggest regular check-ins, and create meaningful moments over coffee or lunch.

👉 Implementing tools to foster connection: Use a "question of the day" in meetings to spark dialogue and understanding among team members.

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Get access to the Relationship Reflection Exercise here: https://forms.gle/tSt34KguHL6iFHGH6

***

Episode sponsor:

Inspiring Workplaces

Join the free global community at https://www.inspiring-workplaces.com/

***

Jason Lauritsen is a dynamic keynote speaker and true thought leader in the world of work and employee engagement. He is dedicated to revolutionizing the way we Lead With Relationship™. He fearlessly challenges traditional norms to reshape the employee experience by consistently placing authentic human connection at the heart of leadership. Jason is the author of two books, Unlocking High Performance and Social Gravity.

***

Download the 18 Great Questions for Check-In Conversations cheat sheet here: https://www.checkintothrive.com/18-great-questions

If you'd like more content like this delivered straight to your email box, sign up for my email list here: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

***

Follow and connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonlauritsen

www.JasonLauritsen.com

"You think it's about love. It's love and your ability to navigate change, because that picture on the wedding cake, right? You're going to have job issues, kids, health issues, death, hopefully death in the proper order. How do you stay aligned?"

- Russell Robinson

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In this episode, we have some real talk about what it takes to have a good marriage and what we can learn from that about all relationships with guest, Russell Robinson. You’ll hear the phrase, “how you treat anybody is how you treat everybody” and discover what that means in terms of how we show up with other people. Finally, we talk about what it looks like to normalize healthy disagreement at work as a means to build connection within a team.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 The significance of being intentional and precious about your time to maintain authentic and respectful relationships.

👉 The parallel between coaching youth sports and workplace leadership, emphasizing the importance of trust, confidence, and availability.

👉 The transformative power of honesty and curiosity in building deeper relationships at work and beyond.

👉 Valuable strategies for leaders to normalize disagreement and welcome critique to enhance team dynamics.

👉 Practical tips for using probing questions, such as "What are you most proud of and why?" to understand colleagues' backgrounds and perspectives.

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Dr. Russell Robinson is a Program Director and Professorial Lecturer within American University’s School of Public Administration (SPA). In these roles, he is the Director of the newly created Key Undergraduate Leadership Certificate Program. Russell teaches graduate- and certificate-level leadership and public administration within SPA and the Key Executive Leadership Program. Prior to joining American University, Russell spent over twenty years as a civil servant within the US Federal Government developing and delivering training solutions focusing on leadership and improving the workforce experience. In addition,

Russell is the Founder of Amplified Research and Consulting, LLC (Amplified Research), which focuses on research, analysis and consulting solutions regarding employee engagement, voice and silence, and talent management. Russell does organizational assessments, focus groups and culture-building coaching services.

Connect with Russell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-robinson-edd-4428b157/

Website: https://www.amplifiedresearch.com/

***

Get access to the Relationship Reflection Exercise here: https://forms.gle/tSt34KguHL6iFHGH6

***

Episode sponsor:

Inspiring Workplaces

Join the free global community at https://www.inspiring-workplaces.com/

***

Jason Lauritsen is a dynamic keynote speaker and true thought leader in the world of work and employee engagement. He is dedicated to revolutionizing the way we Lead With Relationship™. He fearlessly challenges traditional norms to reshape the employee experience by consistently placing authentic human connection at the heart of leadership. Jason is the author of two books, Unlocking High Performance and Social Gravity.

***

Download the 18 Great Questions for Check-In Conversations cheat sheet here: https://www.checkintothrive.com/18-great-questions

If you'd like more content like this delivered straight to your email box, sign up for my email list here: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

***

Follow and connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonlauritsen

www.JasonLauritsen.com