by Rosie Chadwick
It was great to hear speakers at our recent conference explore different dimensions – and benefits – of relational leadership. Warm thanks to Ruth Cane, Dr Nomahaza Mahadi and Rita Symons for sharing insights on this important topic. Here are some of my ‘top takeaways.’ It would be great to hear top takeaways from others.
Relational leadership
… doesn’t mean being nice at all times
… means focusing on the people behind the task
… is a tool for unearning the status quo and imagining something better.
… is an approach for our times. Life is complicated and we need thought diversity to move in the right direction.
… has business benefits. It nurtures trust, communication and emotional engagement, in turn leading to increased employee engagement, increased collaboration, a greater capacity to innovate and more.
… keeps organisations strong, especially in times of change.
… doesn’t replace but instead complements a goal-focussed mindset.
… is necessary to attract the best talent.
… enables us to hear people’s lived experience in a meaningful way.
… can be liberating for everyone, including people brought up in, and moulded by, traditional models of leadership.
Let us know what you have learned about relational leadership!