Jared Fujishin, PhD, is a tenured professor and communication consultant with a passion for helping leaders elevate their communication skills and build meaningful connections.

With years of experience, Jared knows what it takes to help leaders build and sustain thriving cultures through increased relational capital and rapport. His training in both the academic and corporate world are merged together to provide fresh perspectives on communication best practices that inspire leaders towards action. 

While he loves his job and helping come alongside leaders to improve their cultures and themselves, his primary and most important calling is being a loving husband to Sweet Aurora and a devoted father to Asher and Theo. 

In this inspiring conversation with communication expert Jared Fujishin, we explore his powerful "connection's key is less of me" framework that transforms how leaders build trust, influence, and loyalty.

The Foundation: Less of Me, More Connection

The most effective leaders aren't focused on themselves—they're genuinely invested in others. When leaders operate from a "me, me, me" mentality, people comply but don't commit. They'll leave for slightly better opportunities because there's no real connection holding them there.

Moving from Authority to Influence

There's a huge difference between authority ("do it because I'm the boss") and leadership ("follow me, here's where we're going"). When people feel genuinely cared for, they give discretionary effort—the energy that transforms organizations.

Practical Connection Strategies:

• 10-minute check-ins: Weekly conversations asking "How are you and what do I need to know?" and "What can I do for you this week?"
• Simple acknowledgments: Follow-up emails recognizing contributions
• Present-moment awareness: Being fully where you are with who you're with

Building Trust Through Authenticity

Trust grows when leaders create safe spaces for real conversations—both positive and difficult ones. This means having hard conversations with care, checking in when performance dips, and modeling that it's safe to be authentic.

Your North Star Exercise

Visualize the culture you want in five years. What do you want people to feel when they leave your office? Use that vision to guide daily actions that build toward that future.

Resources Mentioned:

• Jared Fujishin's TED Talk: "How to Connect with Anyone You Meet"
• Connect with Jared at West Valley College or on LinkedIn
• The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything by Stephen M. R. Covey
• Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality by Dr. Henry Cloud
• The Natural Speaker by Randy Fujishin

(Correction: Please note - during the podcast, I mentioned Randy Fujishin's book, The Natural Speaker, by the incorrect title. The correct title is "The Natural Speaker." The link to the book is provided above.)

Ready to lead through authentic connection? Start by shifting from "me, me, me" to genuinely putting others first.

To learn more about my services and for additional tools to enhance your leadership impact, visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me on social channels @Claire Laughlin Consulting.