Collaborative Leadership

Collaborative Leadership

Collaborative leadership is all about collaborative problem-solving and decision-making or can also be defined as the leadership of a collaborative effort. . The term started to appear in the mid-1990s in response to the formation of long term public-private partnerships to rebuild public infrastructure. Learn how you can use principles of collaborative leadership to enhance your leadership skills for being an effective leader.

What is Collaborative Leadership?

There could be two ways to define collaborative leadership, first, it could be the leadership of a collaborative effort and second, it could be leadership as a collaborative effort.  The term Collaborative Leadership describes an emerging body of theory and management practice which is focused on the leadership skills and attributes needed to deliver results across organizational boundaries. Collaboration is a purposeful relationship in which all parties strategically choose to cooperate in order to accomplish a shared outcome. A collaborative leader is the one who has the ability to take responsibility for a heterogeneous team to accomplish a shared need/purpose.  Collaboration requires managers to achieve success through people and resources outside their control.

Some common themes that appear from these definitions are listed below:

1. There exists a common purpose or shared need

2. Successful outcome of the shared need depends on contributions from the heterogeneous team, more or less in the nature of voluntary contributions

3. Everyone is on an equal footing and enjoys the same rights and responsibilities

4. All need to work together to solve a problem, create something new, or run an organization or initiative; different talents or abilities are called for success

5. The leader is not the formal leader, does not have absolute control of the group, but has assumed the responsibility for guiding and coordinating the process by which the group decides upon and carries out actions to accomplish its goals

6. Leadership is permanently shared by all or several, members of the group. Group guides itself

Characteristics of Collaborative Leaders:

1. Willingness to take risks, finds the personal motive for collaborating

2. Eager listeners and likes building relationships

3. Passion for the cause; have long term vision

4. Optimistic about the future

5. Able to share knowledge, power, and credit

6. Effective Communicators; ability to simplify complex situations for the group

7. Ability to handle group conflict

8. Ability to motivate, inject energy, passion, and drive into the team

Situations where Effective:

1. Public-Private Partnerships

2. Global Supply Chains

3. Civic collaboration to solve complex community problems

4. On-line collaboration – Linux, Wikipedia, etc.

5. Political collaboration to tackle global issues such as the credit crunch, climate change, and terrorism

6. Situations where problems are serious and complex

7. Situations when there are a number of diverse stakeholders

8. Situations when stakeholders have varied interests

9. Situations when an issue affects a whole organization or a whole community

Leadership Tasks for Collaborative Leader:

1. Inspiring commitment and action

2. Proving guidance and helps people develop the vision and passion

3. Facilitator and a great problem solver

4. Inclusiveness/building broad-based involvement

5. Motivation and participation

6. Fostering close relationships among staff members

7. Restating arguments, ideas, or issues so that everyone's clear on them

8. Ensuring all voices are heard

9. Keeping the focus on what's best for the group

10. Helping the group to identify and obtain the necessary resources to do the work

Related Links

Creation Date Friday, 08 March 2013 Hits 17198 leadership studies, Leadership Theories, theories of leadership, types of leadership

You May Also Like

  • Authentic Leadership Style

    Authentic Leadership Style

    Authentic leadership is an approach to leadership that emphasizes building the leader's legitimacy through honest relationships with followers which value their input and are built on an ethical foundation. The authentic leader acts upon his or her values and beliefs, and inspires others to do the same, is committed to know and develop oneself. Are you committed to developing yourself; know your motivations and the purpose of your leadership? Read this article to know more about authentic leadership style and discovering your authentic self. 

  • Qualities of Leadership

    Qualities of Leadership

    The ten most important qualities that define a good leader are self-awareness, interpersonal and communication skills, ethical values, organizational consciousness, self-confidence, adaptability and flexibility, imagination and creativity, focus & result-orientation, continuous self-development and accountability and ownership for his actions. These ten qualities of leadership every good leader should possess to a certain extent and must continually strive to develop them.

  • Crisis Leadership Style

    Crisis Leadership Style

    Crisis leadership is a very important part of leading in today's world. The skills a leader needs in order to guide people during a crisis are different from the skills needed to help a group grow. Are you a good crisis leader? What is your leadership style in case of a business crisis situation? A business crisis can test the strongest of leaders, read this article to explore how to ensure you’re ready to take action and weather the storm when one strikes you.

  • Lean Leadership Approach

    Lean Leadership Approach

    We define Lean as the systematic elimination of waste through a continual effort to decrease inefficiency; the lean leader strives to create a more efficient organization. Lean leadership is a philosophy. It is a consistent way of thinking and being in your role as a leader. The focus of this approach is on raising new leaders and help their team embrace a culture of continuous improvement. Learn what we mean by lean leadership style and its principles.

  • Narcissistic Leadership

    Narcissistic Leadership

    Narcissistic leadership is a leadership style in which the leader is only interested in him. Narcissists are good for companies that need people with vision and the courage to take them in new directions. Such leaders sometime might be highly successful, but is it a style to be followed. Learn the various types of narcissistic leadership and the characteristics of such leaders.

  • Tasks & Roles of Leadership

    Tasks & Roles of Leadership

    What are the functions which a leader does to establish as a leader? What are the activities undertaken by them to become great leaders, rather revolutionary leaders? The most important tasks done by a leader in all situations are defining the vision, mission, and goals, leading the team, administrative functions, motivating followers, decision making and conflict resolution, and continuous development.

  • Leadership Styles

    Leadership Styles

    Have you ever resonated that there seem to be as many different ways to lead people as there have been great leaders? When we recall the success of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, Napoleon Bonaparte to Steve Jobs and Jack Welch, we also notice that they all used different approaches that were suitable to their specific situations and circumstances. Over the last century, researchers and psychologists have developed simple ways to describe the “Styles of leadership” and in this section, we will explore these commonly known leadership styles.

  • Collaborative Leadership

    Collaborative Leadership

    Collaborative leadership is all about collaborative problem-solving and decision-making or can also be defined as the leadership of a collaborative effort. . The term started to appear in the mid-1990s in response to the formation of long term public-private partnerships to rebuild public infrastructure. Learn how you can use principles of collaborative leadership to enhance your leadership skills for being an effective leader.

  • Democratic Leadership

    Democratic Leadership

    Participative leadership is one of the most effective styles and creates higher productivity, better contributions from group members, and increased group morale.  The democratic leadership style consists of the leader sharing the decision-making abilities with group members by promoting the interests of the group members. Learn more about this leadership style and situations when it is effective.

  • Adaptive Leadership Style

    Adaptive Leadership Style

    Adaptive leadership is a style of leadership that emphasizes the importance of each and every person and role within the company. Adaptive leadership views the organization as an ever-changing, living organization, where employees can learn, adapt, and grow. Adaptive leaders mobilize people towards a common goal and also have the courage to experiment with new ideas and approaches. Adaptive leadership is the practice of mobilizing groups of people to tackle tough challenges and thrive. Learn how to adopt this style and how to become an adaptive leader!

Explore Our Free Training Articles or
Sign Up to Start With Our eLearning Courses

Subscribe to Our Newsletter


© 2023 TechnoFunc, All Rights Reserved