What are the best strategies for building a culture of shared leadership in your coalition?

1 Define your vision and values

The first step to building a culture of shared leadership is to define your vision and values as a coalition. What is your common purpose, your shared goals, and your core principles? How do you want to work together, communicate, and resolve conflicts? Having a clear and shared vision and values can help you align your actions, motivate your members, and guide your decisions. You can use tools such as vision statements, value statements, or logic models to articulate your vision and values and communicate them to your members and stakeholders.

3 Build capacity and skills

The third step to building a culture of shared leadership is to build capacity and skills among your members. Capacity and skills can include leadership, advocacy, organizing, facilitation, or evaluation skills. Building capacity and skills can help you empower your members, enhance your performance, and adapt to changing needs and contexts. It can also help you create a learning culture , where your members can share their knowledge, feedback, and best practices. You can use tools such as training, mentoring, coaching, or peer learning to build capacity and skills in your coalition.

4 Celebrate diversity and inclusion

The fourth step to building a culture of shared leadership is to celebrate diversity and inclusion in your coalition. Diversity and inclusion can refer to the representation, participation, and recognition of different identities, backgrounds, and experiences among your members. Celebrating diversity and inclusion can help you create a sense of belonging, respect, and appreciation among your members. It can also help you enrich your ideas, strategies, and solutions and reach out to broader audiences and allies. You can use tools such as equity audits, inclusion surveys, or recognition events to celebrate diversity and inclusion in your coalition.

5 Foster collaboration and innovation

The fifth step to building a culture of shared leadership is to foster collaboration and innovation in your coalition. Collaboration and innovation can involve the creation, implementation, and evaluation of new or improved ways of working together, addressing challenges, or achieving goals. Fostering collaboration and innovation can help you increase your efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability as a coalition. It can also help you generate more value, impact, and change for your cause and your community. You can use tools such as brainstorming, prototyping, or feedback loops to foster collaboration and innovation in your coalition.

6 Nurture relationships and trust

The sixth and final step to building a culture of shared leadership is to nurture relationships and trust among your members. Relationships and trust can refer to the quality, frequency, and depth of the interactions, connections, and bonds among your members. Nurturing relationships and trust can help you create a positive, supportive, and cohesive coalition. It can also help you overcome challenges, conflicts, or crises and maintain your commitment and engagement. You can use tools such as team building, check-ins, or appreciation activities to nurture relationships and trust in your coalition.