For many years it has been recognised that the relationships we establish within the workplace influence many workplace variables, such as job satisfaction, job performance, retention and productivity.  Managers becoming coaches is one example of leveraging the impact of relationships in the workplace.  Team building days have become popular due to their link with increased communication between departments, higher levels of productivity and enhanced job satisfaction.

But, what happens out of the workplace is none of your business, right?

What if I told you that an estimated USD$6,000,000,000 is lost in productivity and revenue in the US each year as a result of hardship in personal relationships?  What if I told you that a lack of spousal support for one's job is consistently ranked in the top three reasons for leaving a workplace?  What if you knew that retention could be influenced by providing an employee assistance program which incorporated relationship coaching?  If an employee had fewer emotional distractions, could this result in a safer workplace?

As I think about these questions, my mind wanders to those jobs that place the greatest demands on relationships - those including shift work or long periods of time away from home.  These jobs also seem to be the ones where additional stressors and strains could mean the difference between getting the job completed safely and on time, or not.

Late in 2010, Queensland mining magnate Clive Palmer gifted the majority of his employees a family holiday to exotic South Pacific islands for Christmas.  This is a very savvy move for an employer, making him an Employer of Choice in my mind, and demonstrates Mr Palmer's understanding of the demands that the mining industry places on families.  How many employers are pro-actively investing in their employees' family stability at such broad levels?

I'd like to see the day when companies are offering one or two opportunities per year for their employees to attend a relationship-strengthening workshop or retreat.  I'd love to hear from any companies that are already doing this as a matter of policy, and hear from you first hand about the effect this has had on productivity, safety and retention.

Contact us to discuss your personnel development requirements. 

Until next time, focus on the results you want to achieve.