Collaborate and thrive - are you inspiring or just instructing the next business generation?
By Ray Lamb, Leadership Coach at The Learning Corporation
In a complex, volatile, and uncertain world, a 'top-down' leadership style cannot sustain growth, innovation and creativity. Leaders who collaborate will survive and thrive. Unlocking and using the ideas of teams, partners, supplier and individuals is the way forward.
The2013 Ketchum Leadership Communication Monitor reportdescribesopen and transparent communication as the number one characteristic of an effective leader, yet only 24% of people around the globe believe leaders are effective.
We have a whole new generation of fresh thinking individuals coming into the workplace who, if captured and inspired, will be the key to taking the world back into prosperity. This generation are familiar with collaborative and informal environments - they can wear what they like to school and University and have good relationships with teachers, where they are on first name terms and openly discuss feedback on their work. They use two-way communication constantly - via social and traditional media - and usually several methods at once; democracy and respect in all areas of their lives is expected. Yet when they enter the workplace, they often meet a traditional ‘command and control' leadership type where communication is one-way.
But the business success stories of today take a different leadership approach. Forward-thinking business leaders are capturing and inspiring this new generation and thriving through a challenging and ever-changing business landscape by using collaborative leadership techniques.
So what is collaborative leadership? Hank Rubin, Founder of the Institute for Collaborative Leadership states, "A collaboration is a purposeful relationship in which all parties strategically choose to cooperate in order to accomplish a shared outcome."
"Working collaboratively helps businesses to unearth new solutions in a dynamic and more productive way," says Louise Punter, Chief Executive of Surrey Chambers of Commerce. "Businesses need to keep up with the evolving workplace landscape in order to thrive. By taking a collaborative approach, leaders can create a mutually beneficial working environment and reach innovative solutions to drive their businesses forward, benefiting all involved."
Here are some benefits that your organisation will gain from collaborative leadership:
Tap into a natural human process
Collaboration is natural to us as humans - we're social beings so working together is fulfilling. It works and people like it!
Build trust in your organisation
Collaboration builds trust and increases involvement in the implementation of solutions, so we get better results. People are accountable not only for their own actions but also for their contribution to their teams.
Discover better solutions to complex situations
Collaborative working enables people to combine their ideas and identify better solutions. People bounce ideas off each other and can inspire others whilst working together.
Get things done faster
A simple point but extremely valid - we all know that many hands make light work! Working together with effective delegation means that you reach your targets quicker, making you more efficient as an organisation and saving you money as well.
Align your organisation's vision effectively
By creating an environment where discussion across the entire organisation is the norm, leaders are able to better align the organisation's vision, mission and values.
Enhance motivation
Collaborative working enhances motivation to find common ground and common cause, as people breakdown barriers and tackle new issues together. In return, the group gets more effective and wide-reaching solutions.
Generate high performing team
In the great words of Nichole Martini (from Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy group), "when there is a truly functioning team, the aspirations of an organisation become a reality. The mission outlasts the leader. This is the aspiration all of us should have for our organisations and our work."
Understand your customers better
Collaboration with customers, suppliers, and partners helps you to get closer to their needs, so you understand them better. With a high-performing team, you can then create and provide more of what it is that they need and want to succeed.
Hopefully these points have made you think about how you can work towards a more collaborative leadership approach. By maximising your team's skills and abilities effectively, through a collaborative approach, you'll soon notice that you aren't feeling the stress of having to have all the answers yourself any more.
About The Learning Corporation LLP
Ray Lamb and Richard Fox are partners in The Learning Corporation LLP, a pan European firm of executive coaches, business mentors and training facilitators.The partnersfacilitate workshops tailored to client specific issues, e.g. personal effectiveness, leadership, change, coaching, visioning, team working and talent development.
The Learning Corporation offers business and executive coaching to help professionals build effective relationships and leadership capability. The partners are certified coaches and expert facilitators with considerable business leadership experience.
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The Learning Corporation LLP
Email:rjfox@tlc.eu.com
Twitter:@purposefullives
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