Lead by Supporting: How to Be a Leader that Manifests Collaboration

When you think of a leader, what comes to mind? Thanks to pop culture archetypes, it might be someone at the front of a group shouting orders or a corporate tyrant treating employees like pawns. However, as work approaches evolve, so do our expectations of leaders. The traditional model of commanding and controlling people is becoming a relic of the past.

According to a recent study by the IBM Institute for Business Value, a staggering 85% of Gen Z workers believe that the best leaders are those who actively support and empower their teams, rather than focusing on strict hierarchies and control. This younger generation, which will constitute 30% of the workforce by 2030, is driving a shift towards leadership styles that emphasize inclusivity, empathy, and support. They value leaders who listen to their ideas, provide mentorship, and create a sense of community within the organization.

Supporting others is not only emerging as a top leadership quality, but it’s also precisely the type of leadership our world needs to unite an increasingly isolated, lonely, and disenchanted population to work together and address our world’s most pressing problems. 

Leading by Supporting is a transformative model that empowers people and builds a sense of community. It goes beyond mere encouragement of collaboration; it actively manifests it. I’ve witnessed the positive outcomes of this model firsthand for several years at Burning Man, where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together to create an inclusive, creative, and connected community. Each person is invited to participate and collaborate, guided by a set of principles that promote self-governance. In this model, each participant becomes a leader by upholding these principles. 

Applying this model to the modern workplace and a variety of fields, such as education, government, or healthcare, could be the answer to our society’s biggest challenges. By embracing Leading by Supporting, the builders in our society can work at the forefront and address seemingly intractable problems. It shifts the focus from traditional power dynamics to the essence of a person's character. What truly matters is the knowledge and skills individuals bring to a team or project and how they use their unique qualities to help others excel.

Here’s how Leading by Supporting works: 

There’s no traditional hierarchy. Every individual can be a leader, and every voice holds equal importance. Like a school of fish moving together in one stream, the priority is to bring out the best in each other, find the best solutions collectively, and execute ideas to the best of our abilities. Embracing this approach enables us to embrace greater diversity of thought and unlock the full potential of collaboration.

Strategic alignment is vital. Decisions are made collectively, and it is crucial for the team to align on the big objective from the start and measure every action against it. For example, in constructing a tower, each person provides input, and the group collaboratively decides on the best approach. Clear goals facilitate teamwork and enable everyone to be a leader in this model. Investing more energy in upfront alignment minimizes distractions and derailments during the execution phase.

Ego has no place. Allowing personal motives or self-importance to sabotage a project is counterproductive. Recognizing that we all have egos, it is essential to acknowledge them and set them aside. When leading by supporting, the focus is on a mission beyond oneself—a mission that involves working with others, being open, vulnerable, and embracing others' ideas. This approach thrives when everyone can contribute without fear of judgment or failure.

Adopting Leading by Supporting as a practice may not come naturally, especially if one was taught the "survival of the fittest" mindset. To transition to this model, try asking yourself these questions the next time you’re in a team setting:

● Do I understand and agree on the ultimate goal at hand?

● Am I actively listening with empathy and understanding?

● Am I speaking honestly?

● Am I honoring my commitments to the group?

● Am I supporting others, and are they supporting me?

Human beings have evolved beyond the food chain, and evidence abounds that strength lies in numbers. Just as multi-cell organisms outperform single-cell organisms, collaboration and collective success are achievable by prioritizing the group's survival over individual motivations.

Sumit Ajwani is the founder of Makers, a global producer network for global brands that’s fostering a more collaborative future together.