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Listen "Relational Leadership vs. Transactional Management: Build Trust & Multiply Your Impact"
Episode Synopsis
Halfway through summer and already feeling the rush of back-to-school and end-of-year deadlines? In this episode of the H₂ Leader Summer Series, Alan Briggs and Jonathan Collier challenge the “grind-only” mentality by uncovering the power of relational leadership over mere transactions. You’ll learn:
The difference between transactional (BNI-style) and relational (Coharbor-style) approaches
How a high-trust culture drives better engagement, retention, and results
The 3 Cs every leader needs—Curiosity, Care, and Consistency—and how to practice them
Real-world signs your organization is drifting into “just manage” mode
Reflection questions to help you shift from “What can they do for me?” to “How can I serve them?”
Whether you lead a small team or a global enterprise, you’ll come away equipped to strengthen trust, spark engagement, and multiply your impact—one authentic connection at a time.
Show Notes
Welcome & Summer Check-in
Mid-summer realities: schools shopping in July, transactional everywhere
Why relational leadership matters now
Two Networking Models
Transactional: “Get leads, hit quotas” (BNI-style)
Relational: “Get to know the person first” (Coharbor-style)
Why Trust Trumps Transactions
As goes the leader, so goes the culture
Real-life boardroom example: cold, closed vs. warm, open
Signals of Low-Trust vs. High-Trust Cultures
Do people feel safe to speak up?
Are values just on the wall, or lived daily?
Celebration vs. checkbox mentality
The 3 Cs of Relational Leadership
Curiosity: Ask what’s really on people’s minds
Care: Show genuine concern for the human, not just the role
Consistency: Do your values and words match your actions—every day
Practical Steps to Shift
Check your own inbox: person or task?
Communicate context + clarity + candor
Use “three strikes” principle: when a tool or process fails repeatedly, pick up the phone
Reflection Questions
How relational is my current leadership?
Where am I defaulting to transactions over relationships?
Who needs more of my presence (not just my direction)?
Resources & Links
Anti-Burnout ⇒ https://a.co/d/89z1Vrr
The Sabbatical Journey ⇒ https://a.co/d/i5dXSLS
How to Subscribe & Review
If you enjoyed this episode, please:
Subscribe to “Stay Forth Leadership” on Apple Podcasts
Rate & Review—your five stars help others find the show!
Share with a friend or colleague who’s ready to lead from relationship, not just transaction
The difference between transactional (BNI-style) and relational (Coharbor-style) approaches
How a high-trust culture drives better engagement, retention, and results
The 3 Cs every leader needs—Curiosity, Care, and Consistency—and how to practice them
Real-world signs your organization is drifting into “just manage” mode
Reflection questions to help you shift from “What can they do for me?” to “How can I serve them?”
Whether you lead a small team or a global enterprise, you’ll come away equipped to strengthen trust, spark engagement, and multiply your impact—one authentic connection at a time.
Show Notes
Welcome & Summer Check-in
Mid-summer realities: schools shopping in July, transactional everywhere
Why relational leadership matters now
Two Networking Models
Transactional: “Get leads, hit quotas” (BNI-style)
Relational: “Get to know the person first” (Coharbor-style)
Why Trust Trumps Transactions
As goes the leader, so goes the culture
Real-life boardroom example: cold, closed vs. warm, open
Signals of Low-Trust vs. High-Trust Cultures
Do people feel safe to speak up?
Are values just on the wall, or lived daily?
Celebration vs. checkbox mentality
The 3 Cs of Relational Leadership
Curiosity: Ask what’s really on people’s minds
Care: Show genuine concern for the human, not just the role
Consistency: Do your values and words match your actions—every day
Practical Steps to Shift
Check your own inbox: person or task?
Communicate context + clarity + candor
Use “three strikes” principle: when a tool or process fails repeatedly, pick up the phone
Reflection Questions
How relational is my current leadership?
Where am I defaulting to transactions over relationships?
Who needs more of my presence (not just my direction)?
Resources & Links
Anti-Burnout ⇒ https://a.co/d/89z1Vrr
The Sabbatical Journey ⇒ https://a.co/d/i5dXSLS
How to Subscribe & Review
If you enjoyed this episode, please:
Subscribe to “Stay Forth Leadership” on Apple Podcasts
Rate & Review—your five stars help others find the show!
Share with a friend or colleague who’s ready to lead from relationship, not just transaction
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In God we trust