Effective leadership today looks very different than it did ten or twenty years ago. To set your team up for success-both as a whole as well as for individual team members-it is best to cultivate a collaborative working environment. Learn more about how you can meaningfully create an atmosphere that both challenges and inspires, and encourages teammates to voice their opinions and feel ownership for the direction of the company.
The days of company leaders ensconced in corner offices and protected by their executive assistants have all but disappeared. While the essential role that executives fill remains the same, today’s leaders have adopted a more hands-on approach. Modern leadership is becoming increasingly collaborative, with a focus on an “us” versus a “you” mindset when it comes to approaching work.
At its core, collaborative leadership is all about leveraging the skills of your team. In the past, people were hired for positions that held specific sets of job requirements. Perhaps over time, these positions and their associated duties evolved along with the needs of the organization. Often, however, the strengths of individual team members were not taken into account as these changes occurred.
Today’s most effective leaders make an effort to know their team members. They adopt a collaborative work mentality that allows everyone, including him or herself, to best leverage their individual strengths. It is proven that when people perform tasks that motivate and energize them, they are more productive, not to mention happier! Employees that are satisfied with their jobs are more engaged, and are less likely to call in sick or look for opportunities elsewhere. It is a win-win for everyone.
To create a collaborative environment, invest time and energy in your team. Cultivate success by making yourself available as a mentor, and support your team in finding influence and inspiration elsewhere in the company, as well. An open door policy can go a long way in encouraging individuals to come to you with new ideas, or problems that they may have. Allow your team members to work outside of their traditional roles-you never know what hidden talents can arise from the right environment!