Today’s guest learned through a family health crisis how crucial human connection is and became an expert on how effective leaders can boost human connection in cultures to improve the health and performance of individuals and organizations.For more than a decade, he and his colleagues have worked with a wide variety of business, government, healthcare and education organizations to boost connections in their culture. They share best practice attitudes, language and behavior to create what he calls “Connection Cultures” that have propelled the success of teams and organizations including the rock band U2, Costco, the U.S. Navy, NASA, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. His message resonated so strongly that Texas Christian University founded the TCU Center for Connection Culture based on his work.He is the author of two books, “Connection Culture” and “Fired Up or Burned Out.”Please join me in welcoming Michael Lee Stallard.Would you leave an honest rating and review on Apple Podcast? Or Stitcher? They are extremely helpful and I read each and every one of them. Thanks for the inspiration!In this episode we discuss:his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership comes out of a leader who cares about both people and results. It is deeply rooted in a person’s care for others, and those leaders are the ones people follow.”the role sports played in his life and how he learned about leadership from the action of different coaches he admired.how his wife’s cancer battles changed his life and further developed his views on connection.his knowledge about loneliness and its harmful effects on health, as well as his methods for overcoming loneliness to truly connect with others.his view on cell phones and the importance of putting them away during meetings to help increase connectivity.the culture framework he created and follows to encourage people to be leaders who help others feel connected instead of controlled.Links:Michael Lee Stallard on LinkedIn and Twitterwww.MichaelLeeStallard.comwww.connectionculture.comBooks mentioned in this episode:“Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences” by Robbie Samuels“Fired Up or Burned out: How to Reignite Your Team’s Passion, Creativity, and Productivity” by Michael Lee Stallard“Connection Culture: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy, and Understanding at Work” by Michael Lee Stallard“Friend of a Friend: Understanding the Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life and Your Career” by David Burkus“Community: The Structure of Belonging” by Peter BlockOther resources:Learn more about Admiral Vern Clark.Learn more about Jim Sinegal.Learn more about Sol Price.Learn more about Victor Bochini.Learn more about Rosanna Fahy.Learn more about Nick Medley.Learn more about Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Listen to my interview with David Burkus.Listen to my interview with Dorie Clark.Listen to my interview with Chris Schembra.Learn more about Kathy Caprino.Learn more about Jayson Gaignard.Interested in booking Robbie to speak? Learn about his signature Art of the Schmooze session on effective and inclusive networking, and the other sessions he offers.Thinking of hosting a podcast? Writing a book? Want to launch an Amazon bestseller? Robbie offers several free Masterclasses on these topics. Each one of these Masterclass replays is over an hour-long and contain valuable takeaways to help you grow your business or in your career. Find all the free Masterclasses at www.robbiesamuels.com/masterclass.Looking to get M.O.R.E.? A few times a year Robbie runs The M.O.R.E. Program for Entrepreneurial Women. He meets bi-weekly online with four women who want more Money, Opportunities, Referrals, and Engagement. It’s a mix of mastermind hot seats, content-rich masterclass sessions,