At the Core of Leadership Are Relationships – Yet They Are Often Forgotten

Writer: Jari Tourunen

Professor Andrew Kakabadse has stated that successful leadership largely depends on how a company’s board and executive team understand the relationships and dynamics between people. This simple yet powerful insight raises an important question: why is the importance of relationships often overlooked in leadership? 

Although strategy, budgets, and processes are top priorities for every leader, relationships and their dynamics are often brushed aside in the rush or assumed to be self-evident. It is commonly believed that good results come from efficiency and clear plans, but it is forgotten that leadership is always about people: their needs, perspectives, and how they interact with one another. At the tables of boards and executive teams, the focus is on issues, yet the relationships that influence everything are rarely discussed. 

What’s the solution?  This is where training programs that combine the insights of top lecturers, peer learning, and executive coaching come to the forefront.  

Five Reasons Why Programs Focused on Relationships Are Effective 

A CEO’s role is demanding, leaving little time for personal development. Training programs that combine the genuine sharing of experiences with other CEOs and the personal support of executive coaches are an effective yet surprisingly underutilized solution.  

Based on my own experience, here are five reasons why C-level leaders should embrace executive coaching and peer learning in a framework where there is enough safe space to listen, share their experiences and fears, and reflect on what they’ve learned: 

1. The dynamics of relationships can’t be learned alone 

While a leader can read books and listen to lectures, understanding relationships requires reflection and different perspectives. Peer learning provides a safe space to share personal experiences and learn from how others have tackled similar challenges. 

2. Personal coaching helps apply the lessons learned  

Coaching complements peer learning by offering individualized support and confidence in articulating meaningful insights. A coach helps deepen understanding and consider how to practically address the dynamics, such as those raised by Kakabadse, in everyday leadership. 

3. Holistic development increases impact   

When strategic competence, emotional intelligence, and the ability to lead stakeholders are combined, the leader’s influence and effectiveness grow. The best training programs for C-level executives don’t focus on just one aspect of leadership but help leaders grow in a balanced way across all areas of leadership. 

4. Reflection improves self-awareness 

The combination of peer learning and coaching offers the space to pause and examine personal leadership patterns. Leaders can gain new perspectives and strengthen their leadership without external pressure. Almost always, those being coached discover new energy, ideas, and determination within themselves. 

 5. Networks provide long-term support 

Many of the leaders I coach have mentioned that they don’t have peers who can truly relate to the pressures, loneliness, and intense performance expectations that come with the role. A good leadership training program is not just a learning environment but also a network of support to rely on in the future. Other CEOs understand the same pressures and challenges and can offer perspectives that aren’t available elsewhere. 

It is all about a huge impact you can start   

Often, leaders focus on developing skills like strategic thinking or financial management, but relationship dynamics are neglected. Moreover, the pressure of the job or job culture can prevent leaders from stopping to reflect. This is paradoxical, as these programs are precisely the way to develop the meta-skills that make real leadership not only possible but sustainable. 

When leaders invest time and resources into learning from their peers and receive personal support through coaching, they don’t just develop themselves — they develop their organization and the dynamics of their relationships, which affect everything they do. 

Jari Tourunen | Partner | Chief Executive Search | PCEC Executive Coach | jari.tourunen@chief.fi