The 4 Types of Connection: DON’T Be Manipulative - Be Real w/ Megan Robinson (LST #135)

Learn Speak Teach Episode #135 with Megan Robinson. In this special episode, Megan Robinson and Ben break down the 4 types of connection — Fun, Manipulative, Deep, and Power. You're getting a rare, behind-the-scenes brainstorm with two minds riffing in real time. We don’t just talk about connection, we build it live — sharing examples, missteps, and frameworks that shift how you see relationships, influence, and leadership. Megan is the founder of E-Leader Experience, where she’s making leadership accessible to everyone, regardless of title or experience. We dig into why so many people get stuck in shallow or manipulative zones, and how to move into real connection — even when it’s uncomfortable. If you’re tired of surface-level relationships and want to lead with authenticity, this one’s for you. During this episode, you will learn about: [00:00] Trailer [02:17] E-Leader Experience https://www.eleaderexperience.com/ [02:48] We are all leaders [03:39] Building up leadership [04:23] Building connections and relationships [08:05] Real versus deep [11:51] The fun zone [14:29] Empty zone [17:07] Manipulative connections in corporate [20:45] Deep and manipulative zone [23:39] Danger zone [29:57] Utilizing influence [33:44] Power zone [35:10] Servant leadership [36:09] Coaching-style leadership [38:43] Qualities of a great leader [41:50] E-Leader Experience [43:41] Seeking leadership support [48:00] What’s Megan working on? Key Takeaways:   • "Real doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be deep." ~Megan Robinson [07:27] • The good or bad of manipulation doesn't necessarily matter if the behavior is manipulative. ~Megan Robinson [10:15] • If a leader can utilize coercive control, people do things that they never would have done on their own. ~Ben Albert [24:20] • "If you feel that you’ve finished developing, it's most likely something to reflect on a little bit." ~Megan Robinson [45:26] • Our mission is making leadership accessible for everyone, regardless of title, position, or experience. ~Megan Robinson [45:51] • "Title doesn't make you a leader." ~Megan Robinson [46:01] • "Leadership is influence." ~John Maxwell [46:18] People Mentioned and Other Resources: 1. Article: The Connection Imperative Keep In Touch with Megan Robinson: Website: https://www.eleaderexperience.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tritcak/  Podcast: https://www.eleaderexperience.com/podcast  — Follow Balbert… Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections Instagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ Website:  https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/  – LST is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/