Relationship Enhancement at the Workplace
Copyright 2002, empathic coaching associates. All rights reserved.
When Dr. Bernard Guerney hit upon teachable skills that helped couples resolve conflict and enhance closeness in their relationships, it wasn't long before he realized that the Relationship Enhancement method was universally effective in all interpersonal relationships. In his 1977 book Relationship Enhancement, he stated, "RE methods also can be adapted for use with non-family relationships as these exist, for example, in hospitals, industry, and schools, such as psychiatric nurse-patient, supervisor-supervisee, student-teacher, administrator-staff, coworker, and peer relationships."
This conclusion has been confirmed by a number of research studies. In a published paper entitled "Relationship enhancement groups with state hospital patients and staff" in the March, 1999, Journal for Specialists in Group Work, Michael Waldo reports how he trained staff in the use of RE skills:
The RE attitudes and skills of nonverbal communication and self expression (speaking) were described and demonstrated by leaders. Participants then practiced these skills while being coached. Then empathic listening and switching from speaker to listener were described and demonstrated, and all four skills were practiced while the leaders coached
Three RE groups were held for staff members, with a total of 22 staff members attending. Participants included nurses, nurses' aides, social workers, and psychologists from all three units (acute, extended and forensic)...Staff anonymously evaluated the workshop with regard to how worthwhile they felt it was. The average of ratings fell between "very worthwhile" and "extremely worthwhile"...Examples of specific comments staff made about the benefits of the RE group: "learning to listen without giving my opinion," "getting your point across without arguing," "communicating in difficult situations," and "being more open and honest with coworkers."
As made clear by the staff comments, the challenge of resolving conflict and enhancing closeness exists wherever there are two autonomous persons with differing views and backgrounds who are bound together by a common purpose. That purpose may be working in a business organization or in the most fundamental organization of human society - the family. The fact that Relationship Enhancement is effective in the workplace adds further evidence of its usefulness in our most personal family relationships as well.
