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Relational Leadership (RL) is a human-centered approach to working with others that cultivates connection and awareness in order to increase belonging, collaboration, equity and impact across systems. RL promotes psychological safety and helping people feel seen, heard and valued for their perspectives and contributions.

RL PROMOTES A CULTURE THAT INCREASES:

  • Authenticity: people feel safe naming and addressing problems, and they communicate with transparency and integrity. We increase authenticity by inviting and amplifying diverse perspectives and calling others into dialogue to address challenges openly.
  • Growth: change is not only managed but actively encouraged. We increase growth when we admit mistakes, ask questions, invite feedback, and acknowledge gaps or areas of opportunity
  • Belonging: people work collaboratively and interdependently, and they rely on and valuing each other’s strengths and differences. We increase integration when we are aware of other’s strengths and create systems and processes to make sure everyone contributes equitably, and NOT overburdening certain individuals and under utilizing others. 
  • Integration: people can feel seen, heard and valued on their teams. We increase belonging when we acknowledge and address power differentials in the room, listen to others, and take opportunities to celebrate.

 

HOW DOES RL PROMOTE THIS CULTURE?

RL teaches skills that foster continual learning, challenging individuals to grow and improve as leaders and change-makers. RL also teaches people relational practices that allow them, whether they are addressing interpersonal challenges on a team or larger systematic issues, to move through a cycle of observing, connecting, transforming and reflecting:

  • observing (or building awareness of) our own values, preferences, identities, and positions in relation to systems of institutional power;
  • connecting (or engaging others) to understand their values, preferences, identities and positions;
  • transforming (taking action) to change our behaviors – and our teams’ behaviors – so that we are fostering relational cultures;
  • and reflecting (assessing impact) to ensure that our impact aligns with our intentions

 

WHERE DOES RL MAKE AN IMPACT?

RL can be used to influence transformative action at many different levels. On an individual level, relational practice can change how people view themselves and interact with others in their own immediate spheres of influence. On a team level, RL can change how people set up teams and processes within their organizations and institutions. On a system level, RL can change how people approach large-scale problems in healthcare, higher education, our communities, and society at large.

With Relational Leadership, individuals can make an impact from wherever they stand, regardless of their position. RL teaches key skills and concepts that can help foster change within teams, organizations and cultures.

Learn more about the Relational Leadership Institute’s Curriculum by clicking here!