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    WebinarSystemic Collaboration 2009 60 min

    Working Relationally: Managing your SELF in Relationship to Others

    The health of your relationships at work and at home is a BIGGER indicator to your happiness then how much money you make, what your job status and satisfaction is, or where you live. And, as a culture and particularly in stressful economic times, we expect MORE from our relationships and tend to give LESS. If you tend to think others “don’t get it” or spend time feeling like you’re not “enough”, if you aren’t getting along with others and it’s starting to impact your happiness, if others are complaining (directly or indirectly) about you or the people you work with and or live with – the time is NOW to learn the art of living relationally.

    Presenter

    SB

    Susan Brady

    1. Explore what it means to be relational and how that translates in to the practice of being an effective leader
    2. Learn a new framework that will immediately (and positively) impact your relationships

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.The health of your relationships is a greater indicator of happiness than job status or income.
    • 2.In stressful times, people tend to expect more from relationships while giving less.
    • 3.Relational intelligence involves managing your self within the context of your interactions with others.
    • 4.Improving relational skills can reduce friction with colleagues and enhance team collaboration.
    • 5.Leaders can foster a culture of trust by modeling self-awareness and encouraging open communication.
    • 6.The ability to manage oneself within relationships is a cornerstone of professional resilience and success.

    The Core of Personal and Professional Happiness

    The health of your relationships at work and at home is a more significant indicator of happiness than income, job status, or where you live. However, especially during stressful times, we often expect more from our relationships while giving less. This dynamic can lead to feelings of being misunderstood or inadequate, creating friction that impacts overall well-being and professional effectiveness.

    What it Means to Work Relationally

    "Working relationally" is the art of managing your self within the context of interactions with others. It is a form of relational intelligence that requires shifting focus from what you expect from others to what you give to the relationship. This approach is crucial for fostering healthier dynamics, improving team collaboration, and enhancing well-being, especially during periods of change or stress.

    Key Principles of a Relational Approach

    • Understanding the profound impact of relationship health on overall happiness.
    • Shifting from a mindset of expecting more to one of giving more in relationships.
    • Developing strategies to overcome feelings of being misunderstood or inadequate.
    • Improving collaboration and reducing friction with both colleagues and family.

    Why Relational Skills Matter Now

    In an interconnected world that demands constant collaboration, the ability to manage oneself within relationships is vital. Economic uncertainties and societal shifts place additional strain on interpersonal dynamics, making relational skills a cornerstone of resilience and success. Prioritizing relational health can significantly uplift personal happiness and professional effectiveness by counteracting the tendency to demand more while investing less in stressful times.

    Application for Leaders

    Leaders can apply these insights by modeling self-awareness and relational responsibility within their teams. By encouraging open communication and creating safe spaces for feedback, they can nurture empathy and understanding among colleagues. Leaders should also commit to reflecting on their own relational patterns to continuously refine how they engage with their teams and build a culture of genuine connection and trust.

    This session explores the critical role of relational intelligence in both professional and personal spheres. It delves into the art of 'working relationally,' focusing on managing your self within the context of interactions with others. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for fostering healthier relationships, improving team collaboration, and enhancing overall well-being, especially during times of change or stress.

    What you'll learn

    • The profound impact of relationship health on overall happiness, beyond material success or job status.
    • Strategies for shifting from expecting more from others to giving more in relationships.
    • How to overcome feelings of being misunderstood or inadequate in interpersonal contexts.
    • Practical approaches to improve collaboration and reduce friction with colleagues and family members.
    • The 'art of living relationally' to navigate complex social environments more effectively.

    Who this webinar is for

    • Leaders and managers seeking to improve team cohesion and productivity.
    • Professionals struggling with interpersonal communication or conflict in the workplace.
    • Anyone feeling that their relationships are not meeting their potential or are causing stress.
    • Individuals interested in enhancing their emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
    • Those looking for practical methods to foster more positive and productive interactions.

    Why it matters now

    In a world that increasingly demands collaboration and interconnectedness, the ability to manage oneself within relationships is more vital than ever. Economic uncertainties and societal shifts often place added strain on interpersonal dynamics, making relational skills a cornerstone of resilience and success. As Susan Brady outlines, prioritizing relational health can significantly uplift personal happiness and professional effectiveness, counteracting the tendency to expect more while giving less in stressful times.

    How leaders can apply this

    Leaders can apply these insights by modeling self-awareness and relational responsibility in their teams. Encourage open communication and feedback channels, providing a safe space for team members to express concerns without fear. Implement practices that nurture empathy and understanding among colleagues, recognizing that the health of internal relationships directly impacts external performance. Leaders should also commit to personal reflection on their own relational patterns, continuously refining how they engage with direct reports, peers, and superiors to build a culture of genuine connection and trust.

    About this session

    Key takeaways

    Watching this webinar gives you grounded, practical perspective on Teamwork. Expect ideas you can use in leadership conversations, not abstract theory, drawn from Susan Brady's direct experience.

    Who this is for

    CHROs, HR business partners, talent leaders, executive coaches, organizational development practitioners, and senior leaders who are responsible for systemic collaboration inside their organization.

    Why it matters now

    Workforce expectations, hybrid work patterns, and AI-driven change keep raising the bar on culture and leadership. Sessions like this help leaders make smarter, more evidence-informed decisions about Teamwork.

    How to apply it

    Use the ideas here to challenge a current assumption on your team, design a single concrete experiment in the next 30 days, and bring one finding back to your leadership group for discussion.

    Frequently asked questions

    Topics

    Best Practice Institute

    Best Practice Institute is the research organization behind Most Loved Workplace® certification, the SPARK Model, the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI™), and The Workplace Report.

    The Workplace Report

    The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

    The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.