Do you remember doing group projects in school as a child? You might remember one person doing most or all of the work, and everyone getting credit. Maybe you remember how hard it was getting everyone on the same page. Teamwork was the goal, but at times, it seemed too difficult. While we’re not in middle school anymore, we still need teamwork more times than not. How do we create a collaborative community?
In today’s post, Strong Cincinnati explains why collaboration is important and how organizations can work together toward a shared goal. In this podcast episode, we spoke with CoHear, a community engagement company, on building relationships between leaders and their community that lead to effective change.
Why Is It Important for Community Leaders to Collaborate?
Collaborative leadership allows diverse people, teams, and organizations to accomplish a shared goal. When a leader’s knowledge and authority is limited to their field, their need for teamwork increases. A 2014 Stanford Study found that collaboration leads to people sticking to a task 64% longer than those undertaking a task alone.
Collaborative leadership prevents silos by building relationships between organizations. These relationships lead to an increased focus on change beyond organizational boundaries. This allows us to create greater social change than our organization can do alone.
“When leadership is a relationship founded on trust and confidence, people take risks, make changes, keep organizations and movements alive. Through that relationship, leaders turn their constituents into leaders themselves.”-The Leadership Challenge
Three Ways To Create a Collaborative Community
To start effective, sustainable collaborations, you must respect the contribution of others and be open to experimenting with ideas. In successful collaborations, everyone is considered an equal with equally valid viewpoints and value to add.
Focus on the Why
What are the foundational reasons your organization would like to work with others? Do you want to solve a specific social problem? Drive a larger social or systems change? Increase your organization’s effectiveness? Knowing your why will show you how to start.
Understand The Value You Add
Every person and organization has competencies they can bring to the table. Knowing what you and your organization bring allows you to share assets and have your value complemented when working with other nonprofits.
Build Relationships
Collaboration starts with conversation. Ask questions, listen with integrity, and develop a mutual committment. What is their why? How do your goals intersect, in any way?
Contact Mayerson Academy for Leadership Coaching
If you’re looking to overcome organizational challenges, our experienced team of change-makers and consultants is dedicated to helping you succeed. Start a conversation with us to find out about our Leadership Coaching offerings, customized sessions designed for executives and executive teams that elevates leaders to their potential. Connect here or call us at 513-263-2210.
To connect with CoHear
Visit their website at wecohear.com.
To become a BridgeBuilder, email Nikita Anderson at nikita@wecohear.com or Monique Gilliam at monique@wecohear.com
Sources:
7 Ways To Build Collaborative Leadership, Forward Focus Inc,
Are You a Collaborative Leader, Harvard Business Review, 2017
