Understanding the Relational Imperative
A practical framework for understanding and strengthening relationships across all areas of life.
The Core Concept
The Relational Imperative is a practical framework for evaluating the health of relationships. Rather than focusing solely on individual or collective success, it emphasises the quality of the connection between parties. It helps determine whether a relationship is in "right relationship", a state characterised by mutuality, alignment, and shared growth.
Using a quadrant-based model helps identify where a relationship currently sits and what steps might support its improvement. The tool accommodates multiple perspectives and encourages constructive dialogue, especially when views diverge.
Practical Example: Employee and Company Relationship
📋 Scenario: An employee wants to assess their relationship with their company using the Relational Imperative framework.
- 1
Define the relationship
The employee identifies "employment" as the relationship type and invites their manager as a representative of the company.
- 2
Set realisation definitions
Individual realisation (Y-axis):
"I feel fairly compensated, my work is meaningful, and I have opportunities for growth and development."
Collective realisation (X-axis):
"The company is achieving its business goals, maintaining its values, and creating a positive impact."
- 3
Place markers
The employee places a marker on the graph representing their view of the current relationship state.
- 4
Compare perspectives
The manager logs in later and places their own marker, showing how they see the employment relationship.
- 5
Dialogue
They notice some divergence in their perspectives, which opens up a meaningful conversation about job satisfaction, performance expectations, and company culture.
- 6
Track progress
Over time, they revisit the graph to see how their employment relationship evolves.
This example demonstrates how the Relational Imperative framework can bring clarity to employment relationships and foster constructive conversations when perspectives differ between employees and their organizations.
Learn More
Introducing the Relational Imperative
A practical and reflective introduction to a simple framework for seeing how our lives are bound together, and for nurturing healthy relationships across all areas of life.
Why Love?
A personal and philosophical reflection on love as a mutual commitment to right-relationship, and how it can guide us toward justice, mutual care, and shared flourishing.
Ready to apply this framework to your own relationships?
Go to Your RelationshipsGet in Touch
Have questions about implementing the Relational Imperative framework? Want to discuss how it could benefit your organization? We'd love to hear from you.