Relational LeadershipKendra Warden

Leadership Development & Intercultural Affairs

Know This Person?

• Senior Member: The person who has been part of the group longer than anyone else. You respect this person’s opinion because s/he has been around so long. Sometimes you feel like the group cannot try new things because this person does not like change.

• The Newbie: S/he is bringing in some great ideas but does not have as much experience with what has been tried before in this organization. Many members disregard this person’s ideas because they are new.

• The Antagonist: This person has been around for a while and is always trying to stir up trouble in the group. S/he always disagrees with everything and is constantly playing devil’s advocate. Most of the group has become annoyed at this person and find it hard to take him/her seriously.

• The Star: This person is liked by everyone but doesn’t think the same way as everyone else. S/h comes up with a lot of ideas but usually the rest of the group just ignores them.

“Leadership is a relational and ethical

process of people together

attempting to accomplish positive

change.”

Susan R. Komives, Nance Lucas,

& Timothy R. McMahon

Exploring Leadership: For College Students

Who Want to Make a Difference (2nd ed.)

The Relational Leadership Model

Purposeful

Inclusive

Empowering

Ethical

Process-oriented

The Relational Approach

• Purpose influences components of being inclusive, empowering, and ethical

• How purpose is achieved (process) is equally important as the outcome

• How goals are achieved and how others are involved matters in the leadership process

Relational Leadership is Purposeful

• Have a commitment to a goal or activity

• Collaborate to find common ground with others to facilitate positive change– Resolving Differences among Members– Find Common Direction– Build a Shared Vision

Relational Leadership is Inclusive

• Understanding, valuing, and actively engaging diverse viewpoints

• Develop strengths and talents of group members so all can contribute to goals

• Examine practices which block inclusivity

• Involve External Stakeholders

Relational Leadership is Empowering

• Empower every person in the group• Expect successes; learn from mistakes• Expect all to do and be their best• Two Dimensions:

1. Self-empowerment: claim ownership and place in the process, expect to be involved

2. Environment: group promotes full involvement of participants; reduce barriers to development of individual talent and involvement

Relational Leadership is Ethical

• Emphasize Ethical and Moral Leadership– Leadership driven by agreed upon values and

standards

• Lead by example– Align your own values with the worthy values of

the organization

“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Relational Leadership is About Process

• How a group goes about being a group, remaining a group, and accomplishes purposes– Recruitment and Involvement of Members– Decision Making– How Tasks are Handled

• Intentional, Not Incidental– Cooperation & Collaboration– Meaning Making– Reflection & Contemplation

Knowing-Being-Doing

• Must know self well before effectively working with others to achieve a common purpose

• Leadership process calls for those engaged in it to be: – Knowledgeable (Knowing)– Aware of Self and Others (Being)– To Act (Doing)

The Relational Leader

• Creates commitment through participation

• Teamwork plays a key role

• Manages politics within team and outside of group

• Works within existing structure and culture

What Does it Look Like?

• Reframe Typical Tasks– Agenda Planning:

• Don’t just get through topics as quickly as possible.

• Involve the Most People• Empower Voices Usually Excluded• Fair Decisions are Made• Involve Others in Building Agenda• Use Collaborative Practices

What Does it Look Like?

• Collaborative Decision Making– Old way: Issues voted on with little discussion

majority winning and minority dissatisfied– New way:

• Convener states that everyone is involved and heard before resolution determined.

• Present issue and break into small groups to see what questions emerge and identify principles to consider in decision making before reconvening in large group to make decision.

• Encourages involvement and participation

What Do I Do Now?

• Learn the strengths and weaknesses of self and others in group

• Find ways to involve all members of group • Determine agreed upon values and goals as

a group• Work together to achieve purpose• Reflect upon successes and failures and

agree on ways to change or improve

What Do I Do Now?

• Be inclusive

• R-E-S-P-E-C-T • Listen! • Help each other out!

• You can’t do it by yourself!

Kendra Warden

Program Coordinator

Leadership Development

& Intercultural Affairs

kendra.l.warden@vanderbilt.edu

www.vanderbilt.edu/leadership