Relational Coordination Collaborative

Relating Across Difference & RC Toolbox

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The Power of Difference

Differences associated with professional and social identities bring a broad array of perspectives, life experiences, values, know-how, approaches to problem solving and more.  These differences are an enormous resource for innovation and adaptation. The unique view of any one person may stimulate a whole new solution.  If not managed well, however, these same differences become sources of conflict, tension and power struggles about whose views are ‘right’ and whose perspectives will prevail. 

Which way things go depends upon the group members’ communication skills; do they make it safe enough for people to share their unique views and are they able to listen with enough open-mindedness to consider new ideas?  This RC/RAD Toolbox offers frameworks, communication tools and assessment tools to help teams leverage the power of difference.

Relating Across Difference Framework

Relational Coordination Is ....

Relational coordination is a mutually reinforcing process of communicating and relating for the purpose of task integration.  Relational coordination is shaped by organizational structures and, when strong, it supports organizations in achieving a wide range of desired performance outcomes including quality, safety, efficiency, financial outcomes, well-being, learning and innovation.  Relational coordination is particularly important for achieving these outcomes when work is highly interdependent, uncertain and time constrained, whether in times of crisis or everyday stress. 

Relational coordination is measured as a network of ties across roles in any work process that requires coordination.  Its outcomes and predictors have been tested in 73 industry sectors and 36 countries around the worldSee Revisiting Relational Coordination: A Systematic Review.


Seven Dimensions of Relational Coordination

Relating Across Difference Is ...

Relating Across Difference is an opportunity for coaches to learn an integrated, relational approach to QI and DEI.  Coaches learn to build relationships of shared goals, shared knowledge and mutual respect across professional and social identity differences on their teams as they lead improvement projects.  Improvement projects are carried out over 9 months, with 4 workshops and ongoing coaching offered by instructors to support the learning.

Instructors include Wale Olaleye, PhD, MA, MBA, BPharm, Anthony Suchman, MD, MA, and Jody Hoffer Gittell, PhD.  The curriculum is currently being developed and tested in partnership with three health systems including Cleveland Clinic/Case Western Reserve University, Mass General Brigham, and the University of Washington Medical Center, with funding from the Josiah Macy Foundation. 

Relating Across Difference project leaders, Sites, and Curriculum

Six Stages of Change for Implementation Process


 

FIND FRAMEWORKS

FIND COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND TOOLS

FIND VISUALIZATION AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS

 


 

FRAMEWORKS

Relational Coordination

what is it?

example of an RC study

systematic review of evidence

VIDEO - THE POWER OF A SIMPLE IDEA

Relating Across Difference

what is it?

going deeper

Relational Approach to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

What is it?

going deeper

Video - Dangers of a single story

video - how love can help repair social inequality

Relational Approach to Process Improvement

what is it?

Going deeper

And Deeper

Psychological Safety

what is it?

VIDEO -  BUILDING A PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFE WORKPLACE

Relational Model of Change & the Six Stages of Change

What is it?

background

GOING DEEPER

RC Playbook

relational interventions

Work Process Interventions

structural interventions

The Relational Model of Change

Relational Model of Change

COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND TOOLS

Cone in a Box

What is it?

Humble Inquiry

What is it?

Video - humble inquiry: the gentle art of asking instead of telling

Relational Repair

What is it?

Background

video Demo

Building Psychological Safety with PEARLS

What is it?

Background

video Demo

Building Shared Goals

What is it?

Building Mutual Respect

what is it?

Building Shared Knowledge with Conversations of Interdependence

What is it?

Background

VIDEO Demo

Building Shared Knowledge with Conversations of Identity

What is it?

Video Demo

VISUALIZATION AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS

Identity Pie Chart

What is it?

Pie chart worksheet

Video - Dangers of a single story

Relational Mapping

What is it?

additional slides

background reading

Worksheet

VIDEO Demo

RAD/RC SurveyTM

What is it?

background

validation

how to use it

going deeper

BROCHURE

RAD/RC SurveyTM Report

What is it?

background

RAD/RC SURVEY report

VIDEO Demo

Organizational Structures Assessment Tool (OSAT)

What is it?

background

Worksheet/guidelines