ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines how to incorporate relational concepts into advising training and development programs. It contains two main sections. The first section constitutes the what of relational training/development. In the second section, Implementing Relational Skills Into Training and Development Programs, take a holistic approach to address how institutions can implement these training and development needs on their campuses. While the relational component of advising has been discussed for years, the current perception of advisors is that training and development opportunities are still lacking in comparison to informational and conceptual components. The competence of advisors in the relational components should be of great interest to academic institutions. Academic advising satisfaction is highly correlated to student retention. Academic advising is an evolving profession. With evolution comes new learning demands. It is important to understand both individuals’ and organizational needs to ensure the best outcomes, with particular attention to relational skills.
