Brené with Mike Erwin on Leadership Is a Relationship, Part 1 of 2

What It Covers

Mike Erwin, founder of the Character and Leadership Center, discusses his book Leadership is a Relationship, exploring seven relationship-building functions that strengthen leadership effectiveness, including accountability, forgiveness, and resilience in organizational contexts.

Key Questions Answered

• •Accountability in Context: Effective accountability conversations require understanding personal circumstances affecting performance. Leaders who invest time knowing their team members' stories can address underperformance while acknowledging external factors, asking what support looks like rather than simply demanding results.
• •Forgiveness as Catalyst: Creating a culture where people feel loved and supported even when they fail enables teams to attempt audacious, creative, and risky initiatives. Sometimes the greatest exercise of power is choosing to forgive rather than punish, which transforms organizational bravery and innovation.
• •Resilience Through Community: Resilience is not built individually but through relationships and community support. Strong relationships help teams stay resilient across various challenges when faced together, from missed quarterly goals to major setbacks, making wrap-around community support essential for sustained performance.
• •Trust Through Consistency: When leaders fail to hold underperforming team members accountable, they erode trust across the entire team. Accountability conversations can be productive and kind rather than harsh, but avoiding them signals leaders don't care enough about the mission to address performance gaps.