Collaboration: An Important Leadership Development Skill
Even with the best and most skilled managers, organizations must
be able to tap into the varied skills and wider perspectives of
other employees. So it is essential that leaders know how to
collaborate and develop effective partnerships with others. It
is one of the elements that makes a manager a true leader.
Collaboration is the vehicle for sharing responsibility and
combining knowledge, creativity, and experience of others.
Through extensive research and observation, CMOE has found that
the ability to collaborate is essential in an organization's Leadership
Development or Transitioning into Leadership training
program.
Establishing collaborative relationships is not always natural
or easy, particularly because people have different lifestyles,
backgrounds, and experiences. Effective leaders know how to
collaborate when it isn't easy. The benefits of doing so can be
significant. Leaders who believe in the power of collaboration
can produce extraordinary results, while maintaining a healthy
team environment. Fundamentally, collaboration starts with the
leader because they must be willing to let go of some control.
However, time demands and urgency can be a major stumbling block
in opening up collaborative channels. Andrew Carnegie said: "No
man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or
get all the credit for doing it."
One of the most important things a leader needs to be able to do
to collaborate with his/her team members is create a culture
where members value and listen to alternative views and seek out
win-win objectives. This can be accomplished by clearly
identifying common needs and objectives; and certainly should
occur on multiple occasions over time.
A leader can also foster collaboration by encouraging active
involvement and the free exchange of information. The leader,
also, must set the tone by keeping an open mind to different
ideas. Furthermore, when the team members engage in
collaborative activities, it is essential for the leader to
validate and reinforce the collaboration in order to sustain the
behavior.
In CMOE's Leadership
Development books, programs, and workshops, we delve into
the specific skills of collaboration and other important aspects
of leadership. Leadership development topics such as this will
expand collaboration in organizations and will be reflected in
the organization's results and the commitment of its people.
For more information on how CMOE can help your organization
create a powerful and successful Collaboration or Leadership
Development program, please contact a CMOE representative. You
can reach them at (801)569-3444.