EP10: Relationality at Work | Creating Healthy Culture

FARSIGHT Chats

In this episode of FARSIGHT Chats, hosted by Farah Bala, founder and CEO of FARSIGHT, the focus is on creating a healthy work culture through relationality and relational intelligence. The conversation features Dr. Saliha Bava and Mark Greene, who discuss the difference between relationality and relationships, and the importance of developing relational skills such as deep listening, curiosity, and pausing. They explore the impact of societal norms and structures on workplace culture and delve into their newest offering, 'The Relational Workplace.'

| KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED |

Relationality vs. Relationship:

• Relationality is presented as an ongoing process of relating, emphasizing co-creation and shared meaning in interpersonal and systemic interactions, while a relationship is seen as a more static construct.

Importance of Relational Practices:

• The conversation highlights six relational capacities for building relational intelligence in the workplace: staying playful, listening with curiosity, reframing stories, considering context, asking questions, and holding uncertainty.

Tackling Workplace Loneliness:

• The discussion touches on the epidemic of workplace loneliness and its negative impact on productivity and mental health, suggesting that fostering personal connections and belonging is essential.

Relationality and DEI:

• The episode explores how relationality supports diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts by emphasizing both structural and interactional dimensions of organizational culture.

Impact of Trauma and Power Dynamics:

• Insights are shared on how trauma, somatic responses, and positional power influence workplace interactions, stressing the need for empathetic and responsive environments.

Mindset Shift:

• Emphasis is placed on moving away from hierarchical, dominance-based structures to collaborative, relational approaches that prioritize shared understanding, adaptability, and humility.

| SHOW NOTES |

00:00 Introduction to FARSIGHT Chats

01:11 The Importance of Relationality in Today's World

02:01 Meet Our Guests: Dr. Saliha Bava and Mark Green

05:05 Exploring Relational Practices and Masculinity

13:47 The Concept of Relationality

23:25 Relational Capacities and Their Impact

29:00 Embracing Uncertainty in Life and Work

30:23 Inclusive Pedagogy: A Case Study

32:06 The Importance of Playfulness and Curiosity

36:26 Navigating Difficult Conversations

42:06 Relationality and Trauma in the Workplace

45:42 The Role of Organizational Culture in DEI

54:17 Closing Thoughts and Future Conversations

| WORKS CITED |

1. 'The Relational Workplace: How Relational Intelligence Grows Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Cultures of Connection' by Saliha Bava, PhD & Mark Greene. Book. https://relationalworkplace.com/
2. 'How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain' by Lisa Feldman Barrett. Book. https://lisafeldmanbarrett.com/books/how-emotions-are-made/
3. How to Fix a Toxic Culture - https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-to-fix-a-toxic-culture/
4. Collaborative Dialogue Network https://www.collaborative-dialogic-practices.net/
5. Taos Institute Commons - https://www.taosinstitutecommons.com/spaces/9301489/page

Connect with our guests:

• Dr. Saliha Bava | Co-founder | The Relational Workplace
• Mark Greene | Author, Speaker | Remaking Manhood

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