Joshua Evarts, Author, Entrepreneur & Relational Leadership Advocate

Joshua Evarts, Author, Entrepreneur & Relational Leadership Advocate

• The importance of finding and attracting talent
• Adapting to technological evolution, from the internet and smartphones to AI

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In this insightful episode of The Brand Called You, Ashutosh Garg sits down with Joshua Evarts, author, entrepreneur, and advocate for relational leadership. Joshua Evarts shares lessons from his diverse career spanning technology, entrepreneurship, and people-centered leadership. From restoring historic buildings and unexpectedly opening a cigar lounge to exploring what truly nurtures trust and authenticity in business, the conversation is packed with actionable insights.

Below is a breakdown of key moments from the episode, with each section presented as a question along with highlights from the conversation.

01:02 – What defining moments shaped Joshua Evarts as a leader?

• The importance of finding and attracting talent
• Adapting to technological evolution, from the internet and smartphones to AI
• Building a culture focused on solving complex problems

01:46 – Why did Joshua Evarts open a cigar lounge, and what was its original purpose?

• An unexpected venture that grew out of restoring a historic bank building
• The space initially served as a personal “living room” for Joshua Evarts and his wife
• Encouragement from the local mayor to open the space as a public lounge
• An opportunity to apply relational leadership principles in a retail setting

03:13 – When did Joshua Evarts realize that relationships matter more than technology or strategy?

• An encounter with a local bagel baker named Mike, who turned out to have extensive IT skills
• The value of looking beyond transactional relationships
• Hiring Mike, who became a foundational employee for 25 years

04:53 – How does Joshua Evarts define relational leadership, and how is it different from traditional leadership models?

• Every individual has opportunities to lead in some capacity
• Relational leadership focuses on people and interpersonal relationships
• Three secrets to business success:
  • Be likable—twice
  • Offer a great product or service
• Strong relationships can help organizations navigate business challenges

06:36 – Why do organizations still treat relationships as transactions?

• An overemphasis on productivity and technology rather than enabling meaningful relationships
• Organizational reluctance to move away from legacy practices and purely data-driven approaches
• Leaders sometimes forget the relational foundations of their own success

07:50 – Why is authenticity increasingly scarce in leadership?

• The rise of social media influence at the expense of authentic relationships
• Large follower counts do not necessarily translate into genuine human connections
• The difference between online influence and real-world authenticity

08:47 – Can vulnerability actually strengthen a leader’s credibility?

• Vulnerability can involve being transparent about questions and seeking answers from within the organization
• It is not about oversharing emotions, but about engaging teams openly and inclusively

09:40 – What destroys trust fastest, and how can leaders repair it?

• The importance of managing expectations and demonstrating consistency
• Trust erodes through broken promises and inconsistent behavior
• Regaining trust requires transparency and acknowledgment of mistakes

10:51 – What are the early warning signs that a company is becoming “relationship poor”?

• Relationship issues often manifest internally before becoming visible externally
• Negative or toxic staff interactions, low engagement, and a lack of genuine connection
• Leaders need to address cultural problems before they affect external relationships and business outcomes

12:05 – How has digital communication changed human relationships, for better and worse?

• Technology enables greater connectivity and helps shrink distances through tools such as video calls and FaceTime
• Overuse of texting, email, and social media can weaken the quality of relationships
• The importance of device-free, face-to-face interactions

13:58 – What are the biggest myths about leadership, and why do accomplished leaders struggle with genuine connections?

• A shift from profit-and-loss-focused leadership toward influence and audience-building
• Some leaders have become skilled at building audiences while lacking foundational business or people skills

15:29 – Can artificial intelligence strengthen or weaken relationships in organizations?

• AI can handle data-intensive tasks and free people to focus more on relational work
• The importance of keeping people at the center as technology evolves

16:42 – Why do meaningful conversations seem to happen less often today?

• Fear of vulnerability and insecurity can be intensified by media and social pressures
• People may hide behind virtual personas instead of showing authenticity and imperfections

RESOURCES

Learn more about Joshua Evarts: LinkedIn

ENJOYED THIS PODCAST?

A chance encounter with a bagel baker named Mike proved that life-changing talent can sometimes be found in unexpected places. By focusing on connection rather than simply on roles, Joshua Evarts gained a colleague who remained with him for 25 years.

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Thanks for listening!

• Joshua Evarts is an author, entrepreneur, and advocate for relational leadership, with a career spanning technology, business, and people-centered leadership.
• He brings diverse entrepreneurial experiences, including technology ventures, historic building restoration, and hospitality.
• Joshua emphasizes the importance of trust, authenticity, relationships, and human connection in building successful organizations.