COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP
Our article was called “Leadership Ensemble” by Ron Lieber taken from
FastCompany.com. It described a chamber orchestra called Orpheus that was
unique because it did not have a conductor. This orchestra is now making
presentations in the business community because of their unique leadership
structure.
Collective leadership is very similar to the Stage One teams we have learned
about in class. This should not be confused with the absence of leadership, but
rotating power. Different group members take on the leadership role at different
periods of time. Because no one person always has control, everyone is able to
contribute improving motivation and performance. Although consistency and
decision making can be a challenge with rotating power, this group has managed
to turn those challenges into advantages.
Four points we outlined in our presentation were:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Trust leads to Motivation
Skills improve Performance
Standards enable Consistency
Roles help Decision Making
We have included the scripts to our skits that outlined each one of these points.
1. Trust leads to MOTIVATION
(Gail)
Motives-based trust is what most people think about when they
think about trust. It's based on the belief that another's intentions
and values are closely aligned with your own and forms the basis
for most personal relationships. But in a business setting,
competence-based trust -- based on a belief in one's capabilities -is far more important. The most of managers believe that they can
perform a particular task better than anyone else.
(Cindy)
Good morning everyone! Today, we have to make a decision about
which country we should choose to do our new product marketing
research. Is anybody has ideals? Feel free to speak up!
(Chantal)
I think we should select Japan, because Japanese people are very
open to western products. They are more acceptable of new things.
(Jon)
I agree with Chantal, I went to Japan last year. They are pretty
crazy about western product!
(Cindy)
Really? But I don’t think it’s a good idea.
(Chantal)
Why don’t you agree? Can you explain?
(Cindy)
I just don’t think it goanna work. Trudy, which country do you think
it is good to do the research?
(Trudy)
I think we Japan is good as well.
(Jon)
We should do the research about Japan, because~~~~
(Cindy)
I said: “No, already. Didn’t you guys hear it?”
(Gail)
(Gail)
(Gail)
Pause!
(Talking to Cindy) This is not working! You need to listen to their
opinion and trust them more. Trust and listening are the keys for
motivated your employees. Try again.
Play!
(Cindy)
Ok. Chantal, can you make a marketing plan? I want to know what
the marketing strategy in Japan is.
(Chantal)
For sure, I will show you by next Monday.
2. Skills improve PERFORMANCE
(Cindy)
Team members are chosen usually because of their skills
expertise, and training, just as musicians are chosen for a band or
orchestra because of their ability, and each team member needs to
contribute or give feedback to reach the desired goal, just as each
musician must speak up when they hear something that does not
promote the sound that is desired. Let's look at this problem in a
business situation.
(Trudy)
Thank you for taking this time out of your day. As you can see on
the agenda, we need to discuss the presentation for the bi-annual
meeting and specifically how we are going to present our new
production ideas, and as stated, will only take 15 minutes. So, tell
me. How are we going to grab our audience’s attention and not
have people sleeping like at the last meeting?
(Gail)
Have refreshments
(Jon)
Don't turn out the lights like they did a year ago.
(Gail)
We need to keep everyone interested.
(Jon)
Add animation to the slides or something.
(Trudy)
Chantal?
(Chantal)
I agree with you. (Gesture toward all three people without pointing
specifically at anyone)
(Cindy)
Pause!!
(Cindy)
(Talking to Trudy) This is not working. You need input from
everyone, even if they are afraid to offer it. The team members
were picked for their abilities. Chantal needs to know that her
opinion is important. Try this again.
(Cindy)
Play!!
(Trudy)
Chantal, I would really like to hear what you have to say about the
presentation, especially since you took a class on presentations.
(Chantal)
Well actually, I think we need to take a different approach.
(Trudy)
Pause!!
(Trudy)
Through encouragement, other team members are willing to
present their views and ideas and with repetition, each team
member learns to lead in co-operation and thereby promoting
achievement of the final goal. Therefore, all members collectively
lead the team.
3. Standards enable CONSISTENCY
(Trudy)
Employees today have busy schedules and are sometimes unable
to attend meetings. Absenteeism may lead to inconsistency of
performance. Certain guidelines can be implemented to combat this
problem such as dividing principle roles to each member of the
team. Longevity is also a helpful tool since experienced employees
can contribute a significant amount of knowledge. Lets relate this to
a situation in the business environment.
(Chantal)
Thanks for coming. As you all know, we are here today to come up
with ideas for a snowman for our Christmas display at the front of
the store. To get a visual image of our ideas, I have brought some
Play-Do. I think that we should make our own snowmen and in 30
min from now we can compare our ideas.
(Gail)
Jon, what are you doing? We are making snowmen, not Christmas
trees!
(Jon)
Don’t just criticize me! Look at Cindy, she is making snowflakes.
(Cindy)
Snowflakes are part of the Christmas decorations. Isn’t that what I
am supposed to be doing? (Confused)
(Trudy)
Pause!!!!
(Trudy)
(Talking to Chantal) Chantal, this is not working. You should divide
roles among the members. You can group employees together in
an effort to create consistency and avoid confusion.
(Trudy)
Play!!!!
(Chantal)
Gail, why don’t you make the head, Jon you can make the body
and Cindy can make the bottom. You three should work together
and communicate sizes so that we create a proportionate
snowman. I will start preparing some facial expressions and
accessories. Does everyone agree?
(Gail)
Works for me
(Jon)
Sounds good
(Cindy)
Perfect
(Chantal)
Stop!!!!
(Chantal)
In this last skit we saw that by giving each member a specific role
and by suggesting that they work together to create a proportionate
snowman, consistency was created. However, when team
members work together, decisions will have to be made.
4. Roles help DECISION MAKING
(Chantal)
In our last skit, the question that will be asked is “if everyone has
input, how can we ever get anything done?” Good decision-making
is a very important aspect of a highly effective business.
Organizations often operate with all members giving their
consensus in the decision making process. Lets look at a very
simple decision making scenario where there is no hierarchy
among employees and everyone feels that their decision is the
correct one.
PLAY
(Jon)
Hey everyone. Great news! Our new water cooler just arrived. Just
let me set it down over there. So how was everyone’s weekend?
(Gail)
Why does the water cooler go over there? Now I have to walk all
the way around the table just to get a drink of water
(Trudy)
Well, that’s not fair. Now I am forced to go to the other side of the
room and I am often thirsty. This means I will have to get out of my
seat repeatedly and I am very lazy
(Cindy)
Hey just because you are lazy, why should it go by you?
(Jon)
There is no reason why it should go by you either
FREEZE
(Chantal)
Obviously, this is not working. Organizations that operate on
consensus decision-making risk the possibility of not being able to
make a decision due to conflicts of interest. If the agreement
process is chaotic then making a good decision for the company as
a whole can be very difficult. Lets take a look at this scenario again.
This time there will be a designated team leader to help with this
situation. Everyone’s opinion will be heard but the final resolution
will come from the team leader.
REWIND
(Jon)
Hey everyone. Great news! The water cooler just arrived. Where
would you like me to put it Chantal?
(Chantal)
Well, lets see what everyone else thinks and then decide.
(Jon)
I would like to see it set right here
(Trudy)
cooler
Yes, I agree. This side of the room would be perfect for the water
(Gail)
I don’t agree. Why should it go way over there? Lets put the water
cooler over here on this side of the room
(Cindy)
I agree. This side of the room is much better for the water cooler
(Chantal)
All right. Well, after listening to everyone’s input into the decision
making process, I have decided to put the water cooler in the
middle right here where everyone can benefit from it.
PAUSE