What is a relational organisation?
In one
sense every organisation is relational, since by definition they are made up of
a group of people working together towards common goals. However, this doesn’t mean that every
organisation either aims at or succeeds in increasing the relational wellbeing
of the staff, shareholders, clients and other stakeholders.
A
Relational Organisation is one that places the human factor first, recognising
that its most worthwhile goal, alongside its functional raison d’etre, is improving
the quality of relationships among all its different stakeholders, including
the local community.
Building a
relational organisation depends on four factors:
- Adopting
relational goals for the sector in which they operate (e.g. schools delivering
relational education, prisons delivering relational justice, hospitals
delivering relational healthcare etc.)
- Structuring
the organisation according to relational principles, bringing greater relational
proximity among all the stakeholders.
- Forming
partnerships, contractual obligations, and building external relations in a way
that is most likely to achieve these relational goals.
- Ensuring
the organisation’s capacity and effectiveness in achieving this by walking the
talk – teaching relational skills and adopting relational practices throughout
the organisation.
In
Relationships Global, we are also promoting another kind of relational
organisation: one that specifically promotes Relational Thinking™ at both policy
and organisational levels, by inspiring and resourcing leaders to make
relational goals and practice the distinguishing mark of their company, organisation
or nation.