Negotiated Relational Identity: A Prelude to High Quality Work Relationships

Relational identities are the “nature of one’s role-relationship” and refer to “how role occupants enact their respective roles vis-a-vis each other” based on both role-based and person-based identities (Sluss & Ashforth, 2007: 11). Relational identities are an important element of the work environment because they shape how individuals define themselves and interpret expectations within role relationships (cf. Dutton & Ragins, 2007). In this paper, I examine the outcomes of modifying a relational identity within a coworker-coworker relationship. I refer to the coworker’s modification of the relational identity as negotiated relational identity. I aim to answer three research questions: (1) What are key relational outcomes of negotiated relational identity?; (2) What is the moderating role of the focal individual’s disposition?; and (3) What is the moderating role of relationship-specific factors? In sum, this paper proposes a new construct—negotiated relational identity—and empirically examines the key r...