Don’t overlook developing relational management capabilities

Purpose This article highlights some of the relational management approaches exhibited by highly-valued practicing managers. In doing so, the article also describes the learning foundations and approach for best pursuing relational management as a personal, professional development agenda. Design/methodology/approach Five relational management foci, garnered from 40 years of working with practicing managers from all types of organizations and functions, are discussed. Findings Each of the five relational management attributes discussed spotlights different dimensions of an overall effective and sustainable relational management capability. Research limitations/implications Viewpoint insights from observations and discussions with numerous practicing managers, not subjected to hypothesis testing or statistical analyses. Practical implications Insights provided are real-world based and amenable to implementation. Originality/value The insights presented are synthesized from 40 years of significant involvement with practicing managers. Those insights are drawn from the stories those managers shared and from the management capabilities they exhibited or championed.