HOW TO DRIVE INNOVATION THROUGH RELATIONAL LEADERSHIP

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Innovation is on the strategic agenda of most organizations. However, many of them report struggling to achieve the expected results from their innovation efforts.

Why does this happen? The reasons are varied: strategic alignment, resources, structure, technology, and so on. Yet one factor outweighs all others — people. No innovation strategy can succeed if the individuals responsible for implementing it lack the necessary technical and relational skills.

This is something we have consistently observed over the years working with organizations across multiple sectors. Teams that struggle to embrace diverse perspectives, manage intercultural dynamics, resolve conflicts, experiment, and learn from failure often face greater challenges navigating innovation processes.

At the Instituto Relacional (IR), we work with high-performance teams to develop the skills they need to reach their full potential through a relational leadership model based on four key dimensions:

• Leading oneself: becoming aware of our relational strengths and limitations.

• Leading others: developing the relational skills needed to manage teams effectively.

• Organizational leadership: building innovation capabilities to address strategic challenges in a transversal and collaborative way.

• Systemic leadership: fostering strong relationships with partners and stakeholders to create collaborative ecosystems.

This relational leadership model is essential for successfully addressing the challenges that lie ahead for any organization.

From the International Unit of the Instituto Relacional (Instituto Relacional International Services – IRIS), we design and deliver training programs aimed at equipping high-performance teams with the skills needed to lead change within their organizations — through a relational leadership approach to innovation.

In our experience, working with people from more than 20 different nationalities, we have observed that individuals with strong technical expertise, when they also develop relational leadership skills, grow as people, as professionals, and as role models for their teams.

Our Relational Strategic Innovation Program aims to prepare individuals by re-activating their relational capacities and to support teams in solving complex challenges through interdisciplinary innovation and teamwork.

Because for innovation to truly flourish, it is necessary to create spaces where relationships can unfold with quality, balance, and efficiency.

A magical equation emerges when we combine the potential of people, the power of recognition, and the value of innovation.

By NOELIA RODRÍGUEZ, Head of Instituto Relacional International Services.