Relationships at Work - The Guide to Building Workplace Connections and Avoiding Leadership Blind Spots.
Relationships at Work - your honest guide to building workplace connections and avoiding leadership 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 work
This is THE place to start and nurture our leadership journey and create an amazing workplace.
Relationships at Work - The Guide to Building Workplace Connections and Avoiding Leadership Blind Spots.
Unlocking Moral Imagination: Leadership Beyond Assumption
In this episode, we dive into the concept of moral imagination as an antidote to the arrogant assumptions that can easily creep into leadership.
Inspired by Jacqueline Novogratz's book Manifesto For A Moral Revolution, we explore how leaders can envision a more just and inclusive future by embracing humility, empathy, and authenticity. We'll discuss practical steps for developing moral imagination, from building trust to challenging the status quo, and how these actions can shape a healthier, more equitable workplace for everyone.
And connect with me for more great content!
Welcome back to Relationships At Work – Your guide to building workplace connections and avoiding leadership blind spots.. I’m your host Russel Lolacher
I’m a communications and leadership nerd with a couple of decades of experience and a heap of curiosity on how we can make the workplace better. If you’re a leader trying to understand and improve your impact on work culture and the employee experience, you’re in the right place.
This mini-episode is a quick and valuable bit of information to get you ready for the week ahead.
Inspired by our R@W Note Newsletter, I’m passing on to you…
Finding Our Moral Imagination
A couple of mini-episodes ago, right before our 200th episode celebration week, I talked about arrogant assumptions and how they might show up at work, even if unintended. Not taking in input or feedback, interrupting others, assuming understanding... all examples of arrogance that we need to work to avoid. This is all inspired from reading Jacqueline Novogratz's fantastic book Manifesto For A Moral Revolution: Practices To Build A Better World.
So what's the antidote? What’s the other side of this? Well, besides taking some time to improve our self-awareness as leaders, it's also vital we lean into "moral imagination".
The term originally was coined to define or contrast ethical discussions. One of my favourite succinct definitions for moral imagination is as “creatively imagining the full range of options while making moral decisions.”
For the workplace and in those relationships, Jacqueline Novogratz defines moral imagination as “the ability to envision and work towards a future that is both better and just, taking into account the perspectives and experiences of others, particularly those who are marginalized or less powerful. It requires seeing the humanity in everyone, understanding the broader context of issues, and being willing to challenge existing systems and norms.”
This is the answer to leadership's arrogant assumption. It's the ethical equivalent of walking a mile in someone's shoes. And understanding that those shoes come in so many different styles and sizes, and some people can't even afford shoes. I'm really digging into this metaphor.
I love the idea of morals being an understanding of community rather than simply a personal focus. So how do we take these steps?
1. Embrace Humility and Curiosity: Recognize that you don't have all the answers and remain open to learning from others. This involves actively listening, asking questions, and being willing to change your perspective based on new information and insights.
2. Cultivate Empathy: Put yourself in the shoes of others, especially those who are different from you or are in marginalized positions. Understand their experiences, challenges, and aspirations. This empathetic approach helps in designing solutions that are inclusive and effective.
3. Build Trust Through Authenticity: Be honest, transparent, and consistent in your actions and decisions. Building trust requires showing up as your true self, admitting mistakes, and demonstrating a genuine commitment to the well-being of others.
4. Commit to Long-Term Goals with Courage: Pursue ambitious, long-term objectives that may not yield immediate results but have the potential to create lasting impact. This requires courage to take risks, face uncertainty, and persist through challenges.
5. Act with Moral Imagination: Use your creativity to envision new possibilities that align with your values and ethics. This involves thinking beyond the status quo, challenging existing paradigms, and imagining innovative solutions that can address systemic issues and create a more just and equitable world.
Even if we don't think we're arrogant in our assumptions, it's essential we don't even make THAT assumption. Maybe assume we are. And take steps to ensure we aren't.
With a moral imagination, we'll be taking those steps to a more inclusive, healthy workplace that is more of a reality.
