Relational leadership focuses on building and maintaining strong relationships between managers and employees as the foundation for success.
But what does relational leadership actually entail and how can it be practiced effectively? In this article, we will dive into the concept and look at both the pros and cons of this approach.
With this article, we hope that you will gain a clear understanding of how you can create a more engaged, productive and harmonious work environment through relational leadership.
What is relational leadership?
Relational leadership is a leadership style that focuses on creating and maintaining positive relationships between managers and employees through a communicative interaction.
Relational leadership thus emphasises the importance of communication, cooperation and mutual respect, all of which are used and prioritized, in order to achieve organizational goals.
Unlike traditional management models, which are often hierarchical and authoritarian, relational management is based on the idea that strong, trusting relationships can foster a more productive and engaged work environment. A working environment that benefits both socially and organizationally.
Benefits of Relational Leadership
So, why should you as a leader implement relational leadership? We have come up with suggestions on why relational leadership is good and what benefits it brings.
- Improved communication:
Good communication is a breeding ground for good management in general, but in relational management communication plays an even more important role. Relational leadership is about giving everyone a voice in the organization. By promoting open and honest communication between managers and employees, relational leadership can reduce misunderstandings and conflicts. - Increased employee engagement:
Employees who feel valued, respected and safe are often more engaged and motivated to do their best. It benefits both internally and externally. Happy employees will often lead to better results.
Lees meer: PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY - Create a culture where people are comfortable contributing - Stronger team culture:
Relational leadership can help build a strong team culture where collaboration and mutual support are the focus. In relational leadership, the team and employees often achieve a stronger sense of cohesion. The culture is specified by relational cooperation in a competitive culture. - Space for innovation and creativity in problem solving:
When relationships are strong and trusting, teams can more easily work together to solve problems and be innovative in problem solving. When teams are comfortable, a culture of creative freedom will automatically emerge. This,.
Lees meer: What is agile leadership and how to master it?
Disadvantages of Relational Leadership
Although we think that relational leadership primarily contains advantages, there are of course also some disadvantages. No,.
- Time consuming
Building and maintaining strong relationships can take a lot of time and a lot of effort. Being a good relational leader must at the same time come from desire and not from compulsion. Prioritizing a good relationship with your employees is important, but it should not be rushed or superficial. - Favoritism
If relational leadership is not properly implemented, it can lead to favoritism or bias in some cases. Leading relationally is not a matter of forming groups or making it a competition to have the best relationship - it requires a broad prioritization of its employees. - Challenging in large organizations
In larger-scale organizations, it can be difficult for managers to maintain close relationships with all employees on an equal basis.
Implement relational leadership
Like everything new, it can be hard to know where to start. If you would like to start with relational leadership, you can take a look at the following starting points:
- Regular conversations and feedback
Held regular meetings and 1-on-1's with employees is essential to relational leadership. These conversations should focus not only on work-related topics, but also on employee well-being and personal development - including regular feedback on the topics as well. An employee who thrives will automatically deliver better and do more to achieve his or her team's goals.
Read more about feedback and how it is applied in practice: Feedback & Dialogue
- Current Leader
As a good relational leader, you should appear present, listening and empathetic. This involves giving full attention, asking clarifying questions, and showing understanding of employees' views and feelings. As a leader, your main task is to make your employees feel safe in your relationship.
Lees meer: Coaching & Curiosity - Common Objectives
Creating shared goals and values can help strengthen relationships within the team. Employees need to feel that they are working towards a common goal that makes sense to them.
At the same time, a distributed approach can give employees a sense of co-ownership. Lees meer: Distributed Management: Increasing Autonomy and Innovation
- Recognition of mistakes, celebration of successes
Regularly recognizing the efforts of employees and celebrating successes, you as a leader can help increase motivation and strengthen relationships in the team. However, it is also important that mistakes and failures are apprehended and not punished. Errors should not be feared, but used for further development.
- Invest in your employees
Investing in employees' personal and professional development shows that you, as a manager, value their growth and well-being. It can also help motivate and keep your employees engaged.
How to become a good relational leader?
Becoming a good relational leader requires awareness and development of some specific competencies. However, it is worth mentioning that most good relational leaders often naturally have high emotional intelligence and are skilled at relationship building. However, you can train yourself to be a good relational leader.
Here are some steps to help you on your way:
- Self-awareness
Settle into your own strengths, weaknesses and patterns of action. Self-awareness is fundamental to being able to lead with empathy and authenticity. Admitting mistakes and appearing vulnerable is often a challenge for those in leadership and power roles. But vulnerability can pave the way for a continuous growth in the leadership role and respect from employees. - Empathy
Putting yourself in the place of others and understanding external perspectives is essential to building strong relationships. This requires active listening and regular feedback. As a leader, it is important not only to give feedback, but also to ask for and receive feedback. In this way, mutual development is ensured. - Authenticity
Be honest and sincere in your actions and communication. Employees value leaders who are genuine and transparent in their leadership role. As we have also mentioned before, a relationship must come unadulterated and genuine - employees can quickly sense whether a leader comes with authenticity and genuine interest. - Communication
Strong communication skills are an important part of relational leadership. It requires developing the ability to listen, give and receive constructive feedback, and be clear in its communication of expectations.
