Free Community Toolkit Highlights 3 Benefits of Shared Leadership

What does it take to be a leader? In today’s fast-paced, results-oriented marketplace, traditional leadership models are being challenged like never before. In their place, our new era demands more agility, multiple perspectives and a cohesive leadership strategy that adapts effortlessly to change.

Shared Leadership is a practical concept that shifts away from a single leader and, instead, distributes leadership responsibility among various team members and directors, fostering collaboration and collective decision-making. It can take many forms, from co-leadership (where two or more people with key functions share the executive title), to distributed leadership (where the organization maintains a primary leader but decision-making and responsibility are spread across various levels and teams), to team-based leadership (where self-organizing teams of experts make decisions with limited oversight).

As leaders emerge from various levels, this approach leverages diverse perspectives and expertise, promotes a more democratic and inclusive organizational culture and empowers individuals—and by sharing the lift of leadership, individuals are more likely to feel valued and invested in the organization’s success. Ultimately, by expanding the foundation of commitment to the organization’s mission, vision and goals, shared leadership results in a more engaged and motivated team, which drives innovation and productivity.

A study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior found that “collective configurations have higher team effectiveness (compared to distributed configurations) owing to improved teamwork processes and [it was observed] that these effects are more pronounced when temporal dispersion is high.” For nonprofit organizations, in particular, shared leadership can enhance adaptability and resilience, improving their ability to navigate challenges and achieve their mission. In a recent Candid survey, 18% of responding public charities said they had some type of co-leadership model in place—and this was more concentrated among small nonprofits.

While the hierarchical leadership model can feel so universal that moving beyond it feels impossible, shared leadership models are actually quite common throughout history, from social movements to mutual aid models to juries in our court systems. The sooner we begin sharing power, the sooner we can start building organizations that fit the mold of what civil rights activist and community organizer Ella Baker described as leaderful—-not reliant on a single irreplaceable leader but, rather, built on the power of collective trust.

At Trepwise, we recently worked with a New Orleans-based agricultural nonprofit—SPROUT—to support their desired transition to shared leadership (from a single founding executive director to a shared leadership model with three directors). Based on our successful process of planning for this shift, we co-created a groundbreaking new resource: a Shared Leadership Toolkit. This free resource, funded by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, is designed to fuel local nonprofit organizations with the collaborative power of shared leadership, where every team member shares responsibility for the vision.

Based on extensive research, the toolkit isn’t just theory—it’s a practical guide to implementing a shared leadership model successfully and creating the organizational culture necessary to most effectively engage and support everyone on the team. This model allows nonprofits to harness the collective wisdom of their entire team to make better decisions, navigate challenges and drive performance. Consider these benefits:

1. More informed decision-making: A broader range of perspectives enables organizations to better navigate complex challenges and identify solutions that resonate with different stakeholders.
2. Increased adaptability and resilience: With multiple individuals sharing responsibility, organizations can weather transitions and unforeseen obstacles more efficiently.
3. A healthier, more enthusiastic staff: When a broader swath of the team is engaged in responsibilities traditionally held by a single executive director, there is greater potential for more sustainable workloads and a more agile organization—crucial elements in achieving the mission of the organization.

We’ve seen firsthand how organizations embracing shared leadership can foster a culture of inclusivity and enhance adaptability, all while growing future leaders—a critical component for long-term viability. The shared leadership paradigm is revolutionizing organizational dynamics and empowering nonprofits to achieve equitable leadership to jumpstart them toward a new level of effectiveness and missional success.

The free Shared Leadership Toolkit provides tools for any organization, whether you need support in planning, implementing and evaluating a transition to shared leadership, or you just want to enhance clarity on decision making, performance management and professional development to improve team communication and collaboration. Access the Shared Leadership Toolkit today for more information on how shared leadership can benefit your organization.