Fostering Collaborative Leadership

Written By: Sophie Warwick.

Developing highly engaged teams is a core focus of many leaders. We want to strike that perfect balance of providing autonomy and support to empower our teams to thrive. Collaborative leaders enable individual success and engage the entire team in furthering the growth of the organization. They recognize individual strengths and leverage the unique skillsets of each of their team members. They lead without ego and are able to recognize their own strengths and gaps in expertise, where they can then lean on their team for support.

Collaborative leadership is one of the most successful ways to build teams who are likely to be retained over the long-term. See below for the impact collaborative leaders can have on your organization. 

They build community. When team members feel a strong sense of belonging, they are more engaged in their organization. They are able to show up as their true selves without their identities being challenged and can focus on delivering high quality work. As a result, they are more productive and efficient with the use of their time. They are also more likely to be retained over the long-term as fostering community at work is a primary driver of job satisfaction.

Individual satisfaction is undervalued as a factor in identifying high performing teams. Team members who report greater levels of happiness at work, have a higher likelihood of being collaborative and offering mentorship to elevate their peers. They are also empowered to elevate the brand by sharing positives experiences with their networks and community.

They develop top performers. Employees, especially younger generations, are more engaged when they feel a sense of inclusion at work. They recognize that they have the support of their leaders and team members and know they can seek help and coaching when needed. Additionally, in a collaborative learning environment, there is less competition within the team which empowers individuals to leverage their unique strengths. Individuals are less likely to fear their ideas may not be valued and are therefore more likely to share innovations that can elevate the business.

They are better suited to support clients and customers. They enable trust in individual team members that reduces the potential for micromanagement. This structure increases efficiency by allowing team members ownership of their projects and relationships. The result is greater client and customer satisfaction as employees are less likely to be distracted by disruptive leadership. Additionally, they are more likely to seek help for challenging projects because they are working in an environment founded in trust and mutual support.

Collaborative leaders foster workplace environments that empower diverse leadership and communication styles. They creates teams that are more adaptive and innovative because they are comprised of diverse thinkers. They are able to engage all team members to their highest potential by recognising individual strengths and values. The result? Higher performing teams that are more successful in the delivery of projects and initiatives for their clients.

If you’re looking for support in developing your team, our leadership coaching philosophy centers on empowering leaders to inspire and engage their teams through inclusive practices and tangible strategies. We are passionate about fostering long-term team engagement while supporting leaders in their professional growth. Send us an email at contact@thethoughtfulco.net to learn more.