Research Wednesday | February 11, 2026
The Power of Effective Relationships
It is no surprise that effective relationships are a key to leadership performance and organizational success. This synthesis of evidence, published January 18, 2025, in the Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, provides the broadest and deepest analysis yet of why leaders must focus on relationships in order to accomplish organizational goals. The article is a systematic review of the empirical peer-reviewed articles on the impact of positive relational energy. The studies included a variety of ethnic groups from more than a dozen nations.
Positive relational energy, the study concludes, leads to better work performance, resilience, creativity, and reduced anxiety. In a time when many people fear the impact of AI on their work environment and, indeed, on the future of their job, positive relationships are especially impactful. People need physical and emotional energy. Positive relationship energy can enhance other types of energy. One-to-one interactions characterized by mutual trust led to greater relational energy. This improves the performance of every person at work.
In addition to its impact on people, positive relational energy is associated with innovation and productivity. Positive relational energy is strongly associated with mitigating the effects of anxiety and depression. Positive relationships are contagious, allowing leaders to leverage their positive relationships throughout the organization. This is also associated with mutual care and concern, mutual trust, and positive regard. Relational energy does not decline, unlike physical and mental energy.
Behaviors associated with positive relational energy include humility and the generation of positive feelings in others. The research tested my national stereotypes, as I had been convinced that leadership relationships with colleagues were much less likely to take place in Asian work cultures. But the evidence was remarkably consistent, with positive relational energy strongly related to better work and personal satisfaction across cultures and national boundaries.
Here's the link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41042-024-00214-w
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You can find the latest episode wherever you listen to your podcasts.
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