What is Collaborative Leadership?

Collaborative leadership involves the sharing of power by organizing others to solve specific tasks or problems. It is based on the idea of giving up control and equal peer relationships. Collaborative leadership allows people in a company or organization to use their creativity to solve a problem or develop policy. In this form of management style, each person is respected and valued for his or her contribution to the achievement of a common goal.

Under the conditions of collaborative leadership, all participants agree to unite to achieve a specific mission. The manager works to develop relationships between people in the group in order to increase its success. He or she maintains this relationship over time so that it becomes stronger.

One of the keys to collaborative leadership is taking collective action to prioritize and find ways to achieve the desired outcome. Group members recognize and acknowledge the unique perspectives of their peers and that each member shares the same vision. Collaborative leadership requires trust, so everyone can feel safe in coming up with ideas.

This leadership style uses the diverse experiences and knowledge of others. It is based on motivating others to achieve their potential, rather than using strength to get results. A manager using shared leadership may seek opportunities to attract others by recognizing a higher purpose that goes beyond his or her personal goals.

One of the most challenging aspects of collaborative leadership can be the need to relinquish control and share power. Many industrialized societies value individualism and reward personal achievement. The collaborating leader recognizes the contributions made by others and gives them credit for their work. He or she usually relinquishes power for the good of the organization.

These managers usually have the ability to explore themselves and their leadership style. If they find that the behavior does not meet the criteria for general power and peer inclusion, they can adjust their actions to achieve a higher goal. Some collaboration leaders use maturity and experience to gain commitment from others to work as a team.

Mentoring fits into collaborative leadership because it tends to bring out the best efforts in others. Employee development allows the manager to recognize their talents while encouraging them to reach their highest potential. This factor usually benefits the individual and the organization because it allows everyone to offer ideas and feedback.

A good leader using this management style usually balances out responsibility for handling parts without overwhelming the group. He or she usually makes sure that meetings between participants stay on track and are focused on the solution. The manager usually values each member of the group and gives each member the opportunity to participate in the discussions.