Collaborative Leadership Influence: The Secret Ingredient to Business Success
“Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another. ”
Napoleon Hill
Do you find the steps leaders must take to be effective can often be a long arduous process? Too often I observe current leaders relying on their position power, rather than their ability to use collaborative leadership influence to achieve the desired business results. As leaders, we must understand the power we have to use a collaborative approach versus a command and control approach is well within our control. The process of leading more effectively in 2010 should start with recognizing that the words you use as a leader will determine the level of success you will achieve with your team, staff, committee, peers, and even your boss if you have one. You can influence even the most difficult person you encounter at work if you understand some basic leadership influential principles. Three Steps to Using Your Collaborative Leadership Influence:
The first step is to recognize that your authority to get others to execute does not come from your position or title. Your authority to lead is granted by your ability to communicate and engage others in a manner that will compel them to do as you request.
The second step is to focus on honing your ability to demonstrate the leadership behaviors you desire to see in others. You cannot expect to get the desired performance from others if you are not demonstrating the actions you are requiring.
The third step is to immediately identify the people who are a key component of your success and determine the steps you must take to effectively engage them. Creating action around these identified steps will propel you to levels of influence you never imagined were possible. Let’s face it. There is way too much work that must be done to dig yourself out of the mountain of accountability and execution demands you face each day. You must learn to engage others to assist you. The best way to engage others is to demonstrate your capacity to involve them in creating the desired success.
Are you ready to jump start your business results in 2010 by demonstrating your collaborative leadership influence?
Tags: collaborative, influence, leadership, Leadership Influence
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3 Responses to “Collaborative Leadership Influence: The Secret Ingredient to Business Success”
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cararticles.com » How to Develop a Culture of Collaborative Leadership Says:
July 28th, 2010 at 7:41 am[...] Leaders will face the choice between when to lead and when to relinquish control to encourage everyone to collaborate. However, you have to be aware that changing leadership styles is never easy and cannot be done overnight. The solution for recovery from the economic crisis faced at this time, can only be found through working and leading collaboratively. At the end of the day, business will see the benefit of creating a culture of collaboration. [...]
June 22nd, 2010 at 2:19 am
[...] Let us examine collaborative leadership, and how it responds to change. It is a given that organizations must go with change and lead. There is a need for today’s leaders to create a culture of collaboration within their organizations. Instead of just having a leader with all the answers and ideas, most answers can be found from the people within the organization. These ideas can flow freely provided that trust, appreciation, openness and transparency had been established within the ranks. Ideas can be generated with the best minds and right talent put together. Rather than depending on just the perspective of the leader, it is more effective to combine the resources, efforts and ideas of several committed team members. Today’s leadership role is to facilitate an open exchange of ideas and encourage collaboration, instead of clinging to an authoritarian position and keeping full control. Through encouraing collaboration , the leader provides a venue where all can participate in creative discussion and sharing of solutions.The present generation in the workforce want the opportunity to share their ideas, and demonstrate their leadership potential. When a leader provides the forum, and listens to the views of team members, overall motivation is increased. The best ideas can be drawn out when the leader understands and acknowledges everyone’s individual strengths By approaching decisions in this way, a collaborative leadership approach ensures the desired business results.Leaders will face the choice between when to lead and when to relinquish control to encourage everyone to collaborate. When facing that choice, be aware that changing leadership styles is not easy, and cannot be achieved overnight. The bottom line is that we need to understand that it is by working and leading collaboratively that recovery from our economic challenges is possible. At the end of the day, business will see the benefit of creating a culture of collaboration. [...]