In this powerful episode, Dr. Beth Kaplan returns to discuss her groundbreaking book, Braving the Workplace: Belonging at the Breaking Point. She opens with her personal journey through workplace trauma. Beth reveals the critical distinction between inclusion and belonging—explaining that while others determine inclusion, belonging is an internal decision that requires staying true to yourself without compromising your values.

You’ll be moved by Beth’s compelling message about the dangers of self-sacrifice in toxic work environments and the crucial role managers play in fostering genuine belonging. She offers practical strategies for recognizing workplace trauma, setting healthy boundaries, and prioritizing self-care before company loyalty. Whether you’re struggling in a challenging workplace or leading a team and want to create a culture of authentic belonging, this episode offers specific strategies you can start using today.

Beth is a visionary thought leader, researcher, and keynote speaker who has redefined how we look at belonging and how to be our best selves. She works with companies to enhance employee engagement and retention while significantly lowering turnover costs. Beth is currently pioneering a groundbreaking belonging tool with the University of Pennsylvania, designed to measure belonging and predict the propensity to thrive.

You’ll discover:

• Why belonging is an internal decision rather than something granted by others
• The warning signs of workplace trauma
• How managers can become the number one factor in creating environments where people truly belong through empathy and “stay interviews”
• Practical strategies for setting boundaries and prioritizing your wellbeing without sacrificing your authentic self for a job
• The dangerous impact of using “family” language in workplace settings

Watch the episode:

Connect with Dr. Beth Kaplan

Dr. Beth Kaplan’s Resources

Website

Dr. Beth Kaplan

Book page

Book

Braving the Workplace: Belonging at the Breaking Point

Related Podcast Episodes

181: A Strong Sense of Belonging at Work

Do you ever struggle to find joy in your life? My guest Cordelia Gaffar is a master of guiding clients to discover the joy within, and that’s why she has the title, Ultimate Joy Goddess.

Through her own life experiences (which include many years in the corporate world followed by being a mother of 6 children and homeschooling for 18 years), Cordelia now serves as an executive transformation coach. She helps clients learn to nurture themselves by using a process she calls Four Mind Alignment.

Cordelia has won multiple awards for her 8 books and 2 podcasts, along with other awards like the Brainz Global 500 Award of Influencers and Entrepreneurs for 2021.

You’ll discover:

• How Cordelia defines joy
• What gets in the way of self-care
• The five practices of self-nurturing that lead to joy
• How to respond when negative feelings arise within you
• Why Cordelia advises, “Pause for the cause of you”

Watch the episode:

Connect with Cordelia

Cordelia’s Resources

Websites

Cordelia Gaffar

Podcast

Free to Be Show

Books

Detached Love: Transforming Your Heart So That You Can Transform Your Mind

All of Cordelia’s Books

What if you could find out secrets to a strong marriage and then discover that these same secrets can apply to all your relationships? That’s exactly what you’ll learn in this profound conversation I had with John David Mann and Ana Gabriel Mann, co-authors of The Go-Giver Marriage.

John is coauthor of more than 30 books, including his classic 2008 parable The Go-Giver, coauthored with Bob Burg. Ana is a clinical psychologist and therapist currently focused on training coaches around the globe to lead The Go-Giver Marriage workshops.

You’ll discover:

• The role John and Ana each played in the creation of this book
• The one principle that underlies all 5 secrets
• Specific words you can say to express appreciation
• Which secret is a favorite for John and for Ana – and why
• Why they refer to one’s partner as an “unexplored continent”

Watch the episode:

Connect with John

Connect with Ana

John & Ana’s Website

The Go Giver Marriage

John & Ana’s Book

The Go-Giver Marriage: A Little Story About the 5 Secrets to Lasting Love

Are you feeling stressed or in danger of burning out? My guest Janice Litvin shares valuable tips that can help you regain calmness, inner peace and joy. Janice has invested years in developing and applying unique strategies to her own life and to the lives of her clients. We discuss her stress management methodology, which is not only practical, it really works! You’ll love Janice’s passion for her work and the success stories she shares.

Janice is on a mission to help leaders and teams banish burnout in their organizations. She does this through keynotes, workshops, and accountability groups. Janice wants to help as many people as possible take care of their physical and mental health, and that includes teaching them to manage stress to prevent burnout, to eat healthfully, and to fall in love with fitness. She’s the author of the Banish Burnout Toolkit, and we took a deep dive into her book during our conversation.

You’ll discover:

• Where stress comes from…and how to recognize it
• Why awareness is the first of the 6 tools Janice covers in her book
• The role that music plays in preventing burnout
• What leaders can do to help workers avoid burnout
• How an accountability buddy contributes to well-being

Watch the episode:

Connect with Janice

Janice’s Website

JaniceLitvin.com

Janice’s Book

Banish Burnout Toolkit

Have you had trouble establishing a work-out routine and sticking with it? My guest Carl Ficks has helpful solutions to that challenge! Even if you have minimal time available, Carl describes how to create a plan that will work for you. He shares how his routine enables him to be more creative and come up with great ideas for his business. You’ll love Carl’s passion for the topic and the practical tips he shares!

Carl is Founder of No Surrender, LLC, and his passion is helping busy professionals reclaim their wellness. His Ficks System is a proven road map for endurance athletes and weekend warriors alike. His weekly LinkedIn posts and bi-weekly newspaper columns, both titled “The Friday Ficks,” provide strategies, tools and inspiration to stay resourceful and resilient.

You’ll discover:

• How being fit helped Carl during his years as an attorney
• The 2 big obstacles that prevent people from getting started
• The first step you can take to put a fitness program in place
• Why accountability is a key element of staying on track with your fitness goals
• How you can get fit with zero equipment

Watch the episode:

Connect with Carl

Carl’s Website

CarlFix.com

What does it take for leaders to deal successfully with a crisis like COVID-19? My guest Kon Apostolopoulos literally wrote the book on how to do that! Kon co-authored and published in 2020 7 Keys to Navigating a Crisis: A Practical Guide for Emotionally Dealing with Pandemics & Other Disasters, to provide a clear roadmap. The material is a valuable reference whenever you’re experiencing a difficult situation.

Kon is the Founder and CEO of Fresh Biz Solutions, a Human Capital Management consulting group that provides performance improvement and training solutions. He helps organizations develop their people, improve business results, and reap the benefits of a comprehensive Talent Management strategy. He’s also committed to developing future leaders by applying the same principles to the coaching of young soccer players in local, state and Olympic development programs.

You’ll discover:

• The 7 keys that can help you navigate through any crisis
• How leaders can use these keys with their teams to improve performance and achieve the desired results
• The Leadership Paradox – how to take seemingly contradictory items and blend them successfully (e.g., empathy and tough love)
• What Kon does to teach these concepts to the youth athletes he coaches

Watch the episode:

Connect with Kon

Kon’s Website

Fresh Biz Solutions

Kon’s Book

7 Keys to Navigating a Crisis: A Practical Guide for Emotionally Dealing with Pandemics & Other Disasters

It can be tough to run your own practice as a business owner attending to business development and as a service professional providing value to your clients. Whit Raymond understands that challenge from both sides, as he’s alternated between being inside the corporate world and serving executive teams as an external advisor and strategic leadership coach. Whit is the founder of LodeStar Leadership LLC. He’s created a system for identifying which clients are the best fit for him and which ones to walk away from, while keeping everyone’s dignity intact.

You’ll discover:

• How Whit decided on the kind of work he’d focus on with clients
• How to coach yourself so you stay focused and on track
• Two strategies for overcoming anxiety related to work
• Three warning signs that a client may not be right for you

Watch the episode:

Connect with Whit

Whit’s Website

www.LodeStarLeadership.com