Wednesday 25th June, 2014

A new report by Tomorrow’s Company, the London-based global business think tank, in collaboration with CIMA, the CIPD, KPMG, and Linklaters – challenges business and business leaders to put relationships at the heart of business success.

The report addresses how to close the gap between what is said and what is done to build relationships that are resilient and robust to ensure lasting success for the business over the short, medium, and long term.

It also goes beyond providing the case for boards and leadership teams by providing practical frameworks, tools, and guidance on how to achieve the full value of relationships in business and what to do next.

The formal launch of the report will take place at Linklaters today led by Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, Chairman, Hermes Equity Ownership Services and Professor Mervyn E. King SC, Chairman, the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) alongside other key speakers.

The guide highlights four key aspects to creating effective relationships:

• identifying key relationships
• tuning in to relationships
• measuring the effectiveness of relationships
• reporting on the effectiveness of relationships.

 
Sir Mark Moody-Stuart said:
 
One of the most progressive developments in the last twenty or so years has been the development of coalitions of business and civil society to address specific environmental or social problems. To identify the key issues and develop the trust to build such coalitions means building relationships right across society, not just with the obvious partners.
 
Tony Manwaring, Chief Executive, Tomorrow’s Company said:

Business success now demands a ‘relational approach’ – stakeholder management and engagement have got us so far but are no longer fit for purpose. A relationship with another person cannot be a means to an end and a stakeholder cannot simply be an object. We need to go beyond treating people as things and numbers because the critical challenge we now face is how we create value together.