99: Leadership, Presence, and the Cost of Disconnection – Tracy Brower

Leadership has never been more visible and rarely more disconnected. 

A few years ago, Brian sat down with Dr. Tracy Brower during Season 2 to talk about happiness at work and what fulfillment meant in a rapidly changing world. That conversation centered on personal agency and workplace empowerment.

This time, the focus shifts. In this return conversation, Tracy joins Brian to explore loneliness, disconnection, and why leadership presence matters more than ever. Drawing from her latest book, Critical Connections, she unpacks how hustle culture, distraction, and performative visibility quietly erode trust and belonging.

Fifty percent of people globally report feeling lonely. Leaders feel stretched thin. Teams feel unseen. And many workplaces confuse busyness with belonging.

This episode is not about leaving a company. It is about leaving outdated leadership models behind. Tracy breaks down the difference between visibility and true presence, why consistency builds more trust than charisma, and how culture erodes when leaders tolerate the wrong behavior. She also shares practical ways leaders can rebuild connection, even after trust has been strained.

If you lead people or aspire to, this one matters.

Enjoy!

Stay connected with Tracy Brower

Website: https://tracybrower.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybrowerphd/

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Storyline by Kingswood helps leaders and professionals make sense of career transitions, identity shifts, and the stories they’re telling about their work.

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