March 2010

Your leadership sweet spot occurs at the confluence of the factors that intersect when you are at your best as a leader.

At Glowan, we believe that this intersection has three elements, total life mastery, the creation of collaborative advantage, and the ability to cultivate a high performance work culture and a best place to work.

There is an overlapping leadership sweet spot or secondary intersection where personal integrity, authenticity and balance align.

What is your leadership sweet spot?  What confluence of factors intersect when you are at your best as a leader?

I just finished reading Community-The Structure for Belonging, By Peter Block

Some of my favorite quotes from this book include:‘Community exists for the sake of belonging and takes its identity from the gifts, generosity, and accountability of its citizens. It is not defined by its fears, its isolation, or its penchant for retribution’.

How can we translate this definition of community into our work with teams, partners,  and stakeholder?

Peter Block also describes the role of leadership in all of this and states that ‘Leadership is convening and held to three tasks: Shift the context within which people gather. Names the debate or dialog through powerful questions. (and) Listen rather than advocate, defend, or provide answers.’In our work with leaders and their teams we find that these three tasks are known by leaders and but not practiced as often as needed.

Shift the context, Name the debate or dialog, Listen!

Six Collaborative Advantage Sustaining Elements

In our work with leaders and teams who have to collaborate or partner within or across organizational boundaries we found that there  are specific actions and behaviors that need to be addressed for sustaining a healthy and productive collaborative partnership. If dealt with effectively, a climate of openness and trust is sustained throughout the relationship.

Research has shown that investment in the sustaining factores for a collaborative partnership is significant in the determination of ongoing success.

Think about a  current collaborative relationship or one you have been involved in recently and answer the following TRUE or FALSE questions for that relationship.

The Collaborative Advantage Sustaining Elements are those actions that maintain the energy, commitment and enthusiasm necessary for the partnership over time.

Continuous Attention to the Collaborative Process

The collaboration has agreements for how it will work together and works to improve them. T F

Strong Communication Links

Members keep other members informed about work contracts, problems. T F

Explicit Decision Making Process

The decision making process is clear and transparent to all members. T F

Trust and Commitment

Members act according to agreed upon values regarding output and process for achieving results. T F

Credit and Recognition

The collaboration has explicit agreements on how to handle visibility, authority, and I. P. of members.  T F

Interest Based Negotiation/Problem Resolutions

The collaboration utilizes the components of interest based negotiations to achieve greater shared success  T F

Based on your ratings, which were your strongest sustaining elements?

Which need improvement?

What support do you need from your collaboration partners in order to be successful in sustaining the relationship?

Which were your strongest sustaining elements?

Which sustaining elements need improvement?

Leading With Others Requires Some Foundational Elements

In our work with leaders and teams who have to collaborate or partner within or across organizational boundaries we found that there  are specific actions and behaviors that need to be addressed in the initial stages of forming a collaborative partnership. If dealt with effectively, a climate of openness and trust begins to develop.

Research has shown that investment in building a strong foundation for a collaborative partnership is significant in the determination of future success.

Think about a  current collaborative relationship or  one you have been involved in recently and answer the following TRUE or FALSE questions for that relationship.

1. A Compelling Collaborative Vision Exists: Your collaboration has a compelling vision that is clear, exciting and worthy of partnership. T  F

2. Shared Leadership Exists: Members share leadership where appropriate, not relying on any one person for all leadership functions. T F

3. There is A Shared Challenge and Solution Approach: All partners share in the definition of the challenge and definitions of suggested solutions. T F

4. There is Shared Power Equity: There is sharing of power and equity on key decisions and action items tied to mutual collaborative strategy. T F

5. Interdependence By Design: The collaboration uses the diverse skills of members and partners inside and outside the organization. T F

6. There is Mutual Accountability and Responsibility: Members share responsibility and accountability for the results of the entire group. T F

We find that when the leaders and managers we work with pay attention to these six foundational elements their collaborations and partnership tend to be successful.

How are your collaborative relationships going? Our next post will cover the Sustaining Elements required to keep the collaboration going and on target.