"I believe boundaries are kind of the user manual to me. Here's how to be in relationship with me. Here are my preferences, my desires, my limits, my non-negotiables."

— Cy Wakeman

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In this episode, I’m joined by drama researcher and NY Times best selling author, Cy Wakemen.

In our conversation, Cy shares stories of both a great friend and a great boss. She shares that the key to a great relationship is the ability to “love each other up AND call each other up.”

We talk about the key to being more resilient. And we unpack why we should all be more willing to vocalize our appreciation and bids for connection with others.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 The transformative power of female relationships and the importance of a supportive network, especially during tough times.

👉 How validating someone’s suffering without validating their sense of victimhood can foster both compassion and accountability.

👉 Effective strategies for managers to balance holding space and taking action, including practicing curiosity and using self-reflection.

👉 The significance of making bids for connection, showing genuine appreciation, and cultivating heartfelt communication in professional relationships.

👉 How relationships act as mirrors reflecting valuable lessons, emphasizing the need to be a good student and learn from these reflections.

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Cy Wakeman is a drama researcher, NY Times Bestselling Author and recipient of the #1 Global Leadership Guru award for three years running.

Deemed “the secret weapon to restoring sanity to the workplace and the worldplace.” Cy Wakeman works with organizations globally to ditch the drama, hardwire accountability in their teams and turn excuses into results.

She has published four best-selling books, the latest of which is Life’s Messy, Live Happy: Things Don't Have to Be Perfect for You to Be Content (2022). Cy shares her latest leadership insights on the Reality-Based Leadership podcast where she offers practical ways to modernize how leaders evolve their teams beyond the challenges they face.

Connect with Cy:

Website: http://www.realitybasedleadership.com/meet-our-team/cy-wakeman/

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cywakeman

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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

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

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www.JasonLauritsen.com