Respect is the foundation of effective leadership, strong organizational culture, and employee well-being. But what does respect truly mean, and how can leaders create an environment where employees feel valued and empowered?

In this episode, Andrea interviews Kristie Rogers, Assistant Professor of Management at Marquette University and researcher on respect and identity at work. Kristie shares insights from her groundbreaking research, including her work with Televerde—a company employing incarcerated women in Arizona—to explore how respect impacts performance, retention, and personal growth.

Join Andrea and Kristie for a deep dive into the concepts of owed respect (respect granted to all employees) and earned respect (respect based on individual contributions), and discover actionable ways to foster respect in any organization.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Kristie's Path to Researching Respect: How her experience in sports broadcasting and her curiosity about workplace dynamics inspired her journey.
• The Importance of Respect: Why respect is the #1 desire among employees—and why so many people feel they aren’t receiving it.
• Owed vs. Earned Respect: A simple framework for understanding and balancing these two forms of respect.
• Lessons from Televerde: How respect transformed the lives of incarcerated women, reduced recidivism, and improved workplace outcomes.
• Practical Applications: How leaders can recognize their own blind spots and cultivate respect to boost employee engagement and performance.
• Respect and Voice: The connection between respect and an employee’s willingness to speak up and contribute ideas.

Episode Links:

• Harvard Business Review Article: Do Your Employees Feel Respected? by Kristie Rogers
• Learn More About Televerde: Televerde Website
• Episode Transcript: Available at voiceofinfluence.net/336

In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, Andrea shares an inspiring in-person interview with Alice Atemo, the founder of Overcoming Faith Schools in Western Kenya. The episode provides an in-depth look at Alice's story, her humanitarian efforts to rescue and educate vulnerable children, and the challenges and triumphs faced along the way. Andrea and Alice discuss how the school started, its growth over the years, and its current needs, including the push for a medical van and further support for the children. Listeners are encouraged to get involved by visiting tucklets.org to support this noble cause.

In this episode, Andrea Wenburg shares how you can find your inner voice in the midst of a busy schedule. She discusses how scattered leaders can create confusion and anxiety within a team, emphasizing the need for leaders to process their thoughts in silence before sharing them. Andrea introduces the VOICE model, which includes Vision, Offer, Initiative, Curiosity, and Empathy, as a framework for intentional and powerful communication. She also provides a practical exercise of asking three questions after meetings to help individuals find their inner voice and communicate with more influence.