Shared Leadership - a Canadian Preference?

This month we will try to draw closer to answering Terresa’s question, “So what leadership model can or is serving Canadians?” The hope is that our research will make that clearer. In the meantime there is evidence that Canadians like the participatory style proposed by Vroom and Yetton (1973) or shared leadership as explained by Jackson (2000). A leadership style that includes the followers in important organizational decisions appears to be destined for success in Canada.

Participatory-leadership.com defines the style this way:

The participatory leadership paradigm is based on respect and engagement. It constructively focuses energy in every human to human encounter. A more advanced, more democratic and more effective model of leadership, it harnesses diversity, builds community, and creates shared responsibility for action. It deepens individual and collective learning yielding real development and growth. (p.1)

Jackson stated, “Shared leadership is a management model based on the shared governance model of philosophy” (p.166). He believed the four key concepts of shared leadership are, a) accountability, b) partnership, c) equity, and d) ownership. An important study in New Brunswick (Taggart, 2000) supports the theory of shared leadership for Canadians.

Taggart (2000) found that providing staff

a) a greater role in decision making,
b) improving staff access to managers,
c) closing the gap between staff and managers, and
d) creating dialogue among management, staff and unions

were four useful steps in the creating an environment of shared leadership in the New Brunswick region of Human Resource Development in Canada.

The Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness Research Program (GLOBE), a monumental study of leadership around the world, defined leadership as “the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organizations of which they are members” (House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman, Gupta, 2004, p. 15).

Irving (2004) questioned that the emphasis on the “individual” in leadership definitions is unwarranted. He believed that team leadership can be an effective means of attaining goals and organizational excellence. He believed that teams that the Apostle Paul participated on in the New Testament are examples of shared leadership.

Bass (1990) believed that democratic approaches tend to resort in a) better follower commitment, b) involvement, and satisfaction. He argued that, “Decentralization usually brings with it more ability to react quickly and flexibly to opportunities for and threats to the organization” (p.583).

According to House et al. (2004) is, like the U.S. and the U.K. an individualistic orientated country. However my theory is that our research we will find that the ideal Canadian leaders is one who is able to include followers in decisions without abdicating the leadership role. Taggart (2000) found that to be true in New Brunswick and we may find that to be the case as well in the whole country.

What do you think?

Is shared leadership or participatory leadership a value for Canadians?

As we begin our research we would like to hear your thoughts.

Blog contribution from Tim McIntosh.

References:

- Bass, B. M., (19900. Handbook of leadership: Theory, research, and managerial applications. 3rd ed. New York: Free Press.
- Human Resource Development in Canada (2000). http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/corporate/contact_us/index.shtml
- House, R. J., Hanges, P. J., Javidan, M., Dorfman, P. W., & Gupta, V. (2004). Culture, leadership and organizations: The GLOBE study of 62 societies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
- Irving, J.A. (2004, April 8). Decentralization and the shared leadership of the New Testament. Unpublished article. Minneapolis, MN: Bethel University
- Jackson, S. (2000). A qualitative evaluation of shared leadership behaviors, drives and recommendations. Journal of Management in medicine. 14, 34 166-168.
- Participatory-leadership.com (2011). A definition of participatory leadership. Retrieved February 15, 2011 from http://www.participatory-leadership.com/Site/A_definition_of_Participatory_Leadership_.html
- Taggart, J.L.C. (2000). A leap of faith: Creating an environment of shared leadership in the New Brunswick Region of Human Resources Development Canada. Dissertation: Royal Roads U. Ann Arbor. UMI MQ49218
- Vroom, V.H., & Yetton, P.W. (1973). Leadership and decision-making. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.