ABSTRACT
The relationship factor in safety leadership is real. The connections between people may be invisible but the feelings they generate are as tangible as the results. The future of leadership development lies in providing managers with the skills and knowledge to operate in a relationship driven environment. Relationship Centered Leadership (RCL) has the potential to expand leadership capability to help shift safety management from hazards and controls to a more humanistic approach that fosters engagement and continuous improvement. RCL is the art of leading others into a positive state of relationship. Contrary to approaches that seek to attain higher levels of employee engagement and awareness through programs and policies, this approach mirrors the way work happens—organically through a multitude of human interactions.
