Effective leaders shape a brighter future for both individuals and organizations.
Sarah worked in a well-known multinational organization, consistently enhancing her technical and other skills required for her role. She was on a positive leadership path, and it seemed likely that she would become a skilled manager in the near future. Her manager, despite lacking technical expertise, excelled in Emotional Intelligence. She supported Sarah and her colleagues in their roles, ensuring timely project completion and fostering their professional growth. When Sarah reflected on her manager’s best skill, she identified collaboration as the key. Her manager consistently involved the team in decision-making, encouraging discussions and thorough examination of each aspect. This approach helped Sarah and her colleagues learn the decision-making process, consider different perspectives, and develop a strategic mindset for understanding the big picture. By fostering a culture of collaboration, Sarah’s manager contributed significantly to the team’s success.
In another well-known multinational organization, David held a similar job at a comparable level. Despite being recognized as a potential future leader and possessing all the necessary technical skills for his role, he felt a lack of support. While he was often told he had the potential to lead a team and foster growth, his overall experience with his manager and colleagues left him demotivated. David, like his colleagues, faced challenges related to communication and support from their managers. Every day, he went to work unsure of the decisions made by his manager, which he then had to implement without understanding the reasoning behind them. The absence of collaboration within the team was evident, with the manager making decisions without involving the team in the process or seeking their input. This lack of engagement created a negative atmosphere, even when the decisions were positive. David and his team felt the impact of this absence of collaboration, leaving them disconnected from the decision-making processes that affected their daily work.
Drawing from these two cases, it becomes evident that collaboration is a crucial factor for any team. It is the responsibility of every leader to cultivate an environment where collaboration with team members is encouraged, and decisions are made collectively. This is essential for the overall success of both the leader and the organization. While certain decisions or topics may require confidentiality, the majority of decisions within a team should involve collaboration. For a leader to be successful, it’s vital to engage team members in the decision-making process, fostering a collaborative culture that contributes to overall success.
Decision-making might seem straightforward until you find yourself in a role that demands it. It’s a challenging task, especially when strict deadlines loom, and the pressure is on to make the best decision before time runs out. Making any decision is often better than having none by the deadline.
For leaders, possessing strong decision-making skills is essential. Additionally, they need to guide their team members in developing these skills as they grow together. The key to success lies in collaboration. Involving team members in the decision-making process, regular discussions on various topics, joint decision-making, and transparent announcements create the optimal approach for team success.
Leadership involves not just making decisions but also effectively conveying and “selling” ideas, even to your own team members. Regardless of the department, leaders need sales skills to communicate decisions persuasively. When a leader makes a decision, they either need exceptional sales skills to announce it convincingly to their team, making it easily accepted, or they can bypass the need to “sell” by collaborating with their team during the decision-making process. When everyone is part of the decision process, it becomes challenging for someone to raise complaints. It’s normal to have a group of members who may not fully agree with a decision, as it’s nearly impossible to please everyone.
Building on my previous article about EQ skills, it’s crucial for every leader to focus on developing their EQ to enhance their leadership abilities. Organizations, in turn, should actively support their leaders in this growth. Collaboration is a specific skill that can be cultivated through EQ development, and its positive impacts can be significant when implemented effectively.
When integrated into processes correctly, leaders will feel a sense of support and accomplishment. Team members, in turn, will experience motivation and continuous growth. The decisions made at the conclusion of these collaborative processes will carry more meaning and satisfaction for the team. Consequently, success becomes an inherent part of the team dynamic, as every topic is regularly discussed, and optimal actions are taken. This collective success on the team level ultimately contributes to organizational success, with each individual achieving their potential.
