Better connection, credibility and trust

Relational ways of working: what leaders need to know

Relational ways of working are about how work gets done, not just what gets delivered.

They focus on trust, respect, and communication, and on the quality of relationships underneath decisions and outcomes. In people-centred and community-engaged work, this is not a nice-to-have extra. It‘s the foundation.

For senior executives, relational ways of working are not just something teams do. Success is shaped by leadership choices.

Relational working means working in ways where establishing and maintaining a helpful interpersonal relationship is the priority. ‘ (Haigh & Benefield, 2020). Proactively building conditions that are curious, clear, equitable and trauma aware. 

In practical terms, it’s things like:

• treating people as people, not just roles or stakeholders
  
• listening to understand, not just to respond
  
• being clear about expectations and boundaries
  
• valuing lived experience and different perspectives
  
• Being open, transparent and taking responsibility when things don’t  go to plan

Relational work doesn’t happen by accident.

Choosing a method like co-design does not automatically make work relational. Even strong teams struggle when timeframes are unrealistic, budgets are tight, or leadership support is unclear.

This is where executive leadership matters most.

To genuinely set teams and projects up for success, leaders who are commissioning, sponsoring and enabling the delivery of relational ways of working need to:

• factor in enough time for relationships to form and develop
  
• resource engagement adequately
  
• provide clear support and decision pathways
  
• stay connected to what is happening on the ground

When leaders invest in and plan for relational ways of working from the start, teams are enabled to focus on doing the work well, and communities are more likely to feel connected, respected and valued.

Enabling relational ways of working is an ever evolving leadership skill that takes literacy and practice to mature and grow. 

How leaders show up shapes how safe, effective, and sustainable the work becomes.

We’re always happy to support senior leaders who are curious about levelling up their practice. 

Get in touch here if you’d like to arrange a confidential chat.

Want to do some more reading about relational ways of working? There’s some great work being done by the good folk at The Relationships Project