How Do You Build Relationships?

In this in-depth episode, host Lee Scheinbart welcomes retired U.S. Navy submarine commander Robert "Navy Bob" Roncska for a conversation that bridges military command and physician leadership. Drawing on decades of experience leading nuclear submarine crews, Bob shares practical lessons on building trust, developing people, and creating high-performing teams through genuine relationships rather than authority alone. Lee and Bob explore the principles of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) and discuss how leaders move beyond constantly "fighting fires" by investing in the people they serve. Through memorable stories from life aboard a submarine and while carrying the nuclear football for President George W. Bush, Bob illustrates how psychological safety, purposeful communication, and authentic care can transform organizational culture and improve performance. The conversation challenges leaders to discover their own purpose while helping others find theirs, reminding us that leadership is ultimately measured by the lives we influence and the legacy we leave behind. By the end of the conversation, listeners will discover that some of the most enduring lessons in physician leadership come not from a hospital—but from hundreds of feet beneath the ocean's surface.