When "Being Nice" Can Be Disrespectful | Episode #045 | Anju Choudhary

The Leadership Imperative Most Underinvesting In | Episode #049 | Craig Devereaux

There is a question I have asked in boardrooms, at leadership offsites, and in quiet one-on-ones with founders who are wondering why their organizations feel harder to run than they should be. The question is deceptively simple: Do your people believe you count their needs as important? Not do you have a good benefits package? Not do you hold quarterly town halls? Not do you have a stated set of company values printed somewhere on a wall? Do your people — in their bones — believe that you, as their leader, genuinely regard their needs as worthy of your consideration? This week on the Leading With Respect podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Craig Devereaux [https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-devereaux?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAMJD8sBoR9jX9ef6-1ySTYnJAcZ1uS5Tkg], Founder and CEO of Advius Group, an executive search and coaching firm built around a thesis I find both intellectually rigorous and morally grounded: that executive failure and team underperformance are, at their core, a respect problem. And that leaders who get this right don't just build better cultures — they build better business outcomes. The conversation went places I didn't expect. I want to bring the best of it to you here. Read the full article on LinkedIn. [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leadership-imperative-most-underinvesting-bobby-bakshi-lwjcc]

True Respect: Why Leaders Must Call Out "The Turd on the Table" | Episode #048 | Rishad Tobaccowala

We’ve all seen the corporate posters. The ones plastered in breakrooms or splashed across landing pages featuring buzzwords like Integrity, Collaboration, and, most frequently, Respect. But what happens when the rubber meets the road? What does respect actually look like when financial targets are missed, a high-paying client treats your team like scum, or a massive organizational shift is underway? In this week's episode, I sat down with Rishad Tobaccowala [https://www.linkedin.com/article/edit/7461727106251800576/?author=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAAXrB0BtMU5HpvwiaQFVgxw2TiMQLeP4SI]—author, speaker, and former Chief Strategist and Growth Officer at Publicis Group. Over a 45-year career spanning massive corporate ecosystems and his current chapter as a "company of one," Rishad has mastered the art of organizational reinvention. He shared a masterclass on what true workplace respect looks like, how to navigate toxic cultures, and why human emotion is our ultimate competitive advantage in the age of AI. See the LinkedIn article summarizing the conversation here. [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7463014602373689345/]

Courage, "Egonomics," and the Human Edge in the Age of AI | Episode #047 | Dov Baron

In this week's podcast episode, I share a conversation that didn't just skim the surface of Leading With Respect—it delved into the depths of the human experience. I sat down with Dov Baron... The Science of Emotion, a global leadership powerhouse and a true polymath. Dov is also the host of the podcast, The Dov Baron Show. Link to his site below. I’ll admit, "polymath" wasn't a word I used daily until I prepped for this episode. By definition, a polymath is a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning. Dov isn’t just a leadership strategist; he is a master of quantum physics, neuroscience, and psychology. He uses this diverse toolkit to crack the "emotional source code" of what makes us human. Our conversation hit on a nerve that many leaders are trying to soothe right now: How do we stay relevant in a world dominated by algorithms? The answer, as Dov puts it, isn't in working harder—it’s in being more courageously human.   Get to know Dov's work and podcast at www.DovBaron.com.   Read and subscribe to my LinkedIn newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/courage-egonomics-human-edge-age-ai-bobby-bakshi-h0djc/

Why Respect is the Ultimate Competitive Advantage | Episode #046 | Jeroen Kraaijenbrink

We often think of "strategy" as a cold, analytical game—a series of spreadsheets, market forecasts, and tactical maneuvers. But what happens when we strip away the jargon and look at the humans actually making the decisions? This week on the Leading With Respect podcast, I share my conversation with, Jeroen Kraaijenbrink [https://www.linkedin.com/preload/], a strategy expert from the Netherlands who has transitioned from the world of academia and consulting into the profound space of coaching leaders to "stand tall." Jeroen’s approach is a breath of fresh air: he’s on a mission to humanize strategy. We delved deep into a topic that is often discussed but rarely defined: Respect. Read the LinkedIn newsletter article [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/strategy-soul-why-respect-ultimate-competitive-advantage-bobby-bakshi-mgifc].  Consider subscribing to the newsletter and the podcast.

When "Being Nice" Can Be Disrespectful | Episode #045 | Anju Choudhary

In this week's episode of the Leading With Respect podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Anju Choudhary, Chief People Officer at Xoxoday. Her work centers on supporting leaders and teams as they navigate major change, digital transformation, and complexity. And her perspective on respect cuts straight to where most organizations get it wrong. You can be polite and still be disrespectful. Respect Is Not What Most of Us Were Taught One of the most consistent themes across this podcast is how often guests challenge the surface-level definition of respect. Real respect, in Anju's view, is built on three things: Fairness Clarity Consistency It shows up in how decisions are made, how feedback is given, how conflict is handled, and how leaders use power when no one is watching. Read the full article on LinkedIn. [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-being-nice-can-disrespectful-bobby-bakshi-7qosc]