Why Emerging Leaders Must Rethink Collaboration

One of the benefits of our work is having the privilege to coach and learn alongside talented emerging leaders. Every time I facilitate a peer group, I’m reminded that leadership is a shared journey—I often take away as much as I give.

In our most recent discussion, collaboration emerged as a central theme. It’s a word we all use often, but when you pause to unpack it, collaboration is much more than just “working well together.” For emerging leaders especially, it’s a skill that deserves deeper study and intentional practice.

Why Collaboration Matters Now More Than Ever

Almost 80% of employees report using collaboration tools today, up from 55% before the pandemic. Remote work, cross-functional teams, and shifting business demands have all accelerated the need for leaders who can collaborate effectively. At the same time, this increased collaboration has created new challenges: meeting fatigue, blurred roles, and the risk of burnout when “helping” and “over-committing” become the default.

That’s why collaboration can’t be left to chance. It needs to be shaped by authentic leadership—grounded in trust, openness, and clarity.

Collaboration vs. Teamwork

It’s helpful to distinguish collaboration from teamwork.

• Teamwork emphasizes defined roles, task completion, and coordinated effort within a structure.

• Collaboration, in contrast, is about shared creation—equal voices, fluid roles, and building something together that wouldn’t exist otherwise.

Emerging leaders thrive when they know how to shift between these two modes. Sometimes, execution and coordination are needed. Other times, innovation and co-creation drive the best outcomes.

Barriers to Collaboration

Leaders in our group named several common challenges:

• Organizational barriers: siloed departments, unclear roles, and misaligned incentives.

• Cultural barriers: competition over cooperation, reluctance to share information, and resistance to change.

• Leadership barriers: unclear expectations, inconsistent messaging, or leaders who don’t model collaborative behavior.

Naming these barriers is the first step. The next is equipping leaders with strategies to overcome them.

Three Leadership Skills that Strengthen Collaboration

1. Strategic Collaboration

   • Identify the right stakeholders for the right initiatives.

   • Focus on value-adding partnerships that move the organization forward.

   • Build sustainable relationships built on mutual trust and shared vision.

2. Time Management

   • Regularly assess priorities and ensure projects align with strategy.

   • Say “no” diplomatically when collaboration doesn’t serve the bigger picture.

   • Create clear success metrics to prevent “busy work” collaboration.

3. Effective Delegation

   • Match tasks to team members’ strengths and capabilities.

   • Provide clear direction without micromanaging.

   • Use delegation as a way to develop others, building overall team capacity.

When emerging leaders practice these three skills, collaboration becomes purposeful rather than overwhelming. Instead of drowning in requests and meetings, they can create space for meaningful partnerships that advance both their leadership journey and their organization’s goals.

The Takeaway

Collaboration is not just a buzzword—it’s a core leadership competency. For emerging leaders, the challenge is not to collaborate more, but to collaborate better: with intention, with boundaries, and with authenticity.

As I continue to learn alongside leaders, I’m reminded that collaboration is both an art and a discipline. And when done well, it doesn’t just produce better outcomes—it produces better leaders.