There has been a lot of research into the effect the quality of our relationships has on our lives. It’s not surprising that many findings conclude that ‘good relationships keep us healthier and happier.’ [1]
The time many of us spend at work means that our workplace relationships are important too. In fact, 72% of employees would be more likely to stay at a job where they feel supported, cared for, and valued, than at a job where they don’t feel valued but are paid 30 per cent more. [2]
This highlights how investing in relational skills can not only improve workplace culture and employee satisfaction but also reduce costly staff turnover.
Why leaders need to show their teams they are valued
Employee engagement strategies are a key element for success in any type of organisation. If there’s a goal to increase workplace productivity, having an engaged workforce which feels valued is a good place to start.
Showing employees that they are valued means listening, understanding and responding positively to what’s going on for them. Trusted leaders are rewarded with teams who are 260% more motivated and 41% less likely to engage in absenteeism. [3]
Relationship experts at OnePlusOne have developed a new relational skills training programme to equip leaders with the tools they need to create positive and supportive workplace environments.
How OnePlusOne can help leaders to develop relational skills
Relational leaders is a CPD-accredited course designed to equip existing and aspiring leaders with the skills they need to navigate workplace challenges and build a psychologically safe, collaborative and efficient working environment where they and their team can succeed.
In today’s world, workplace culture counts. Leaders need to genuinely care about the wellbeing of their people and demonstrate this in their behaviour. Building positive relationships at work improves employee awareness of each other, fosters empathy and increases respectful engagement. They can also improve job satisfaction and reduce staff turnover.
In its new evidence-based training programme, OnePlusOne’s experienced trainers work with delegates to help them to develop:
- Empathy and enhanced emotional competence for better engagement and collaboration.
- Resilience and adaptability to navigate difficult conversations and build trust.
- Self-awareness and the ability to connect with colleagues in a meaningful and productive way.
- Effective strategic partnerships with clients, colleagues and stakeholders.
The immersive training, which includes face-to-face and online sessions, offers a uniquely tailored learning environment, personalised to the needs of each participant. At the end of the training, attendees will leave with the confidence to be the leader they aspire to be.
Developing skills that go beyond the workplace
Many of those who have taken the Relational leaders training programme have reported putting their new skills into practice in their personal relationships too. This highlights how intertwined our home and work lives are, and why understanding how one can impact the other is an essential skill for leaders. Relational leaders training is the latest course to be launched by OnePlusOne, adding workplace relationships to its growing library of relationship support resources.
Verity Glasgow, CEO of OnePlusOne said, “OnePlusOne has a long history of using evidence from relationship research to help people to develop and maintain healthy relationships with the people in their lives. Our working relationships have an impact on our lives just as our personal ones do, and I’m proud that we are now taking our knowledge into workplaces to help organisations develop relational skills that will improve outcomes for their staff and their business.
“For a long time we have known that there is a strong link between home stresses and productivity at work, so it makes sense for us to extend the reach of our work to support professional relationships too.”
Increasing productivity
Last year, OnePlusOne’s CEO Verity Glasgow and senior research lead, Dr Shannon Hirst, spoke at The Happiness Index’s annual conference about the importance of workplace relationships. Feedback from attendees showed an appetite for greater understanding of how work and home pressures affect each other, and what can be done to support relationships at both more effectively.
Matt Phelan, TEDx speaker, author, and co-founder and co-CEO of The Happiness Index said, “Study after study shows that employees who are happier and more engaged at work perform better. So it makes sense for business to invest in their people and to establish supportive, workplace cultures where everyone can thrive.
“That’s the purpose behind everything we do at The Happiness Index, and it’s complemented perfectly by OnePlusOne’s Relational leaders training. Understanding how our personal lives affect our professional ones and vice versa, is an essential skill for any leader wanting to inspire and connect with their teams to drive success.
“OnePlusOne has done an amazing job taking more than 50 years of relationship expertise and creating a programme to develop the skills leaders need to ensure successful workplaces today.
“Supporting staff with their wellbeing, encouraging creativity and motivation while reducing absenteeism is often top of the list for many managers. Having good relational skills so they can communicate well and earn the trust of their team is the best place to start.”
Learn more about Relational leaders training.
Start improving your own skills and workplace relationships today with our FREE guide
References:
[1] Harvard Longevity Study
[2] The Achievers Workforce Institute, 2024]
[3] TIPP, P. P. Communications in the Workplace Statistics 2024.
