How to overcome power struggles in collaboration

There are leadership maturity hurdles as well as culture and systemic challenges to overcome. As leaders, we need to manage the polarity of individual achievement and collective success. In this way we might overcome power struggles for effective collaboration.

Individual Recognition and Collective Success, often linked to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are a polarity to manage. We will use Barry Johnson's Polarity Management framework to map this out.

Step 1: Identify the Polarity

Recognise that both individual recognition and collective success are vital in a workplace. The tension between these two needs to be managed to achieve balanced outcomes.

Step 2: Name the Poles

• Pole 1: Individual Recognition
• Pole 2: Collective Success

Step 3: Map the Polarity

Create a polarity map to visualise the benefits and downsides of each pole.

Top Left: Positive Results of Focusing on Individual Recognition

• Motivation: Higher motivation and engagement of individuals.
• Performance: Improved individual performance and accountability.
• Career Development: Enhanced career growth and personal development.

Bottom Left: Negative Results of Over-focusing on Individual Recognition

• Competition: Unhealthy competition among team members.
• Isolation: Creation of silos and lack of teamwork.
• Inequality: Perceived or actual inequality in recognition and rewards.

Top Right: Positive Results of Focusing on Collective Success

• Team Cohesion: Enhanced collaboration and teamwork.
• Synergy: Greater innovation and problem-solving through collective efforts.
• Organisational Goals: Better alignment with overall organisational objectives.

Bottom Right: Negative Results of Over-focusing on Collective Success

• Lack of Individual Accountability: Potential for individuals to shirk responsibilities.
• Demotivation: Reduced motivation if individual contributions are not acknowledged.
• Group Think: Wanting to fit in and maintain group cohesion reduces challenging the status quo.

Step 4: Assess the Current Situation

Determine where your organisation or team currently stands. Are they leaning too much towards individual recognition or collective success?

Step 5: Determine Early Warnings

Identify early warning signs that indicate an imbalance:

• For Individual Recognition: Increased conflicts, competition, and creation of silos.
• For Collective Success: Signs of demotivation, lack of individual accountability, and over-reliance on group efforts.

Step 6: Develop Action Steps

Create actionable steps to balance the focus between individual recognition and collective success.

Action Steps for Balancing Individual Recognition:

• Balanced KPIs: Design KPIs that reward both individual and team achievements.
• Recognition Programs: Implement programs that acknowledge both individual and collective contributions.
• Communication: Foster a culture of open communication where individual efforts are celebrated without undermining team success.

Action Steps for Balancing Collective Success:

• Team Goals: Set clear team goals that align with organisational objectives.
• Collaborative Culture: Promote a culture that values teamwork and collective achievements.
• Support Systems: Provide systems and processes that support team collaboration while recognising individual contributions.

By managing this polarity, you can leverage the strengths of both individual recognition and collective success while minimising the downsides. This approach will help create a more balanced and effective work environment.

Tip of the week?

Review the collaboration self-checklist - available for subscribers only. Join the community here . You’ll get 40 book summaries and recommendations on Leading Strategy and Performance, along with a special secret audio from my award-winning book, People Stuff.

About Zo? Routh

Zo? Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She works with leaders and teams to navigate future horizons.?