What do leadership, empowerment, and interdependence have in common? All of these qualities when present lead to successful entrepreneurship. Those that have not been exposed to these high-powered habits may find entrepreneurship a very difficult path to take. The perception of leadership is misconstrued based upon the person who is defining it. Between coercive leadership and no leadership at all there is a middle ground of collaborative leadership. While collaborative leadership is attainable, most often it is not reached due to differences of those in leadership roles. In order to transform something good into something great, collaboration is necessary. The transformation will depend upon how power and leadership is approached by all parties involved.
When persons of inexperience are taken to perform tasks with little to no management and placed in a higher level of expectation, there is a higher chance of risk. The majority of the population requires direction from a higher level. Commitment, empowerment, and leadership traits are elusive. Having a structured plan with a concise execution plan is more likely to be followed to the exact measure required. However when problem-solving skills are left to those of whom that have no desire or need to resolve issues that arise, there could be irreparable damage caused.
Taking a deeper look into what each part of collaborative leadership is, may give a deeper understanding into what it takes to become skilled in this necessary area. Leadership, which is the action of leading a group of people forward toward an end goal, is a necessary trait for any and all entrepreneurs. If an individual is unable to captivate an audience to the extent that they desire to join in and help reach the goal, then this is an area that should be honed in on and sharpened. Empowerment is to provide another which the knowing of being fully capable to complete the tasks giving. This could also be looked at as a form of encouragement. Providing authority to a colleague to make decision when the other is not present or able to give direction will empower them to take action. Interdependence is when one relies on another in a healthy way, where each party has something to offer and both are utilized to the best of their abilities.
In each situation there has always been a designated leader and those of whom follow the one in charge. Each of those that have the capability to lead tends to step back when there is a leader assigned or designation to a group or assignment. Most have the desire to assist but lack the confidence in doing so. When there is a meeting of the minds great things can be accomplished.
When people lack the confidence in their own opinion they tend to feel as though they do not have the right to state what they believe is the best form of action. Some may not feel as though they fit in because they were not assigned to make decisions but to carry them out. Every person of a group has a quality to add to the group whether they are aware of this is entirely up to them. This is important when there may not be a designated leader. For the most part, people feel more comfortable at being led than to lead.
Despite the natural disdain for conflict humans tend to have, not being able to understand the importance of our presence within the realm of a group is due mostly to our inability to understand interdependent relationships. Regardless of our own belief, our presence or lack thereof can affect a group as a whole. Under the assumption that we are completely sufficient within ourselves shows the level of ignorance in regards to team building as well as our ideas of interpersonal relationships. When decisions are made and they were not a direct effect of a mutual agreement, but rather of a dictator stand point, feelings then become involved and tend to get hurt. The desire for complete autonomy can keep a group from successful collaboration.
The desire for recognition has passively depreciated our individual value in a group setting. This need drives the group to either give the opinion in which they hold in hopes of their idea being chosen, or they decide to not even contribute at all and great ideas are lost out on. In collaboration there is a balancing act between the ideas and the concrete strategy of execution. When collaboration occurs, there is no longer a need to feel powerless in the decision-making processes.
Once our own capabilities are recognized we become more interdependent within a group, and the awareness level increases to the others capabilities within the group. This allows to all ideas be heard and even attempted to see which idea or strategy works and which does not. Competition and individualism are the quickest way to put a stop on collaborations amongst peers, which increase conflict. Within a group this will create difficulty during the decision making process and the general flow of the group’s progress.
When a party within a group no longer stifles the ideas and opinions that are generally held within, there is a release of which thoughts and ideas can begin to flow and bring out ideas from other parties within the group. This creates an atmosphere of creativity and freedom to add each owns opinions for a collaboration to begin to take place.
When a group begins to delve into the world of collaboration this increases the compassion within the group for those that are already in a position of leadership. Leaders are expected to make tough decisions as well as still keeping their morals and ethics within a certain range of humanity. Decisions that are extremely challenging to make are now viewed with a different perspective, and less likely to receive critical criticism from peers. Pressures alone can break a person if they lack the confidence to make the tough decisions. When there is collaboration amongst peers this reduces the hurt feelings and miscommunications, within the group.
Practicing team-building exercises is a great way to lead a group into a collaborative leadership. This is not a naturally occurring skill, therefore when each person within the group gains the perspective of their individual value that is added to the group collaboration can become more and more progressive. Interdependence is a key part to begin in collaborative leadership. Regardless of the level of difficulty, once taken on and achieved it gives way to the path of success.
