“Let’s have a phenomenal day!”: Investigating the role of relational work at work at work

The workplace is a space in which a wide range of power dynamics are invariably at play. Consequently, it is an important space for applied linguists to investigate. Because it is in employers’ interests to know how best to utilise these dynamics to promote both collegiality and efficiency within their employees, this research uses video recorded data from morning briefings in a UK target-oriented company to explore how managers with significant institutionally-sanctioned power attempt to create and cultivate camaraderie. Adopting a broadly Interactional Sociolinguistic approach, this research explores a variety of linguistic phenomena including themes such as collaborative/individual humour, the use of positive/negative semantic fields, terms of address, small talk and motivational persuasion – in short, relational work (Locher & Watts 2005, 2008). More specifically, it investigates how this can impact on the daily performance of both the branch as a whole as well as the employees individually. In addition to quantitative methods, this study also uses qualitative measures to uncover and better understand potential correlations. The results of this specific applied linguistics study have implications for workplace interactions more generally; the insights that they provide enable a deeper understanding of the social mechanisms involved in these institutionally-generated power dynamics – and, ultimately, with that deeper understanding comes the ability for those within these workplaces to become more selfaware of the vital role of relational work at work at work.