What do you do if your management team lacks strong professional relationships?

1 Assess the current situation

Before you can improve your management team's relationships, you need to understand the current state of affairs. How often do you interact with your fellow managers? How well do you know them personally and professionally? How do you handle conflicts, feedback, and decision-making? How do you align your goals and expectations? You can use tools such as surveys, interviews, or self-assessments to gather feedback and insights from your management team and identify the strengths and weaknesses of your relationships.

2 Establish clear roles and responsibilities

One of the common causes of poor relationships among managers is role ambiguity or overlap. When managers are not clear about their roles and responsibilities, they may experience confusion, frustration, or conflict. To avoid this, you need to establish clear roles and responsibilities for yourself and your management team. You can use tools such as RACI matrices, job descriptions, or performance plans to define who does what, how, and when. You also need to communicate these roles and responsibilities clearly and regularly to your management team and other stakeholders.

4 Provide and seek feedback and recognition

Feedback and recognition are essential for building strong professional relationships. They help you to acknowledge each other's contributions, strengths, and areas for improvement. They also help you to express your appreciation, respect, and support. You can provide and seek feedback and recognition by using tools such as 360-degree feedback, peer reviews, or recognition programs. You can also use simple gestures such as thank-you notes, compliments, or awards. You should also be open and receptive to feedback and recognition from your management team and use them to improve your performance and relationships.

5 Address issues and conflicts constructively

No matter how well you get along with your management team, you will inevitably face issues and conflicts at some point. How you handle them can make or break your relationships. You need to address issues and conflicts constructively, rather than avoiding, ignoring, or escalating them. You can do this by using tools such as conflict resolution models, mediation, or coaching. You can also use skills such as active listening, empathy, assertiveness, or negotiation. You should also focus on finding solutions, rather than blaming, criticizing, or judging.

6 Maintain and nurture your relationships

Finally, you need to maintain and nurture your relationships with your management team. You can do this by following up on your actions, commitments, and agreements. You can also check in regularly, offer support, or celebrate successes. You can also seek feedback, recognition, or advice from your management team and act on them. You should also be respectful, honest, and trustworthy in your interactions and communications. You should also be flexible, adaptable, and open to change and diversity.