Act like Mike Rowe.

That’s advice I would give to any executive seeking guidance on how to connect more authentically with employees.

Mike Rowe is the host of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs where his job is to interview people doing tough jobs involving all kinds of unpleasantness like inspecting sewers, working a pig farm or mining coal. Rowe’s persona is that of the average Joe – down to earth, folksy and approachable. His forte is what he does for people he interviews – he puts them at ease so they feel comfortable speaking about their jobs. (At the bottom of this post, you watch his TED talk.)