Independent Leaders Are Great -- This Type Of Leader Is Even Better

Many of us have come to associate independence with the positive traits of freedom, autonomy and self-reliance. Business leaders who dare to break from the norm are considered brave trailblazers, paving the way with their innovative vision. Yet to be truly successful, those independent leaders also must embrace something that often gets a bad rap: interdependence.

In the simplest of terms, interdependent leadership means shifting your perspective to view the world through the lens of "we" rather than "I." Interdependence speaks to the importance of connecting with others and maintaining viable relationships and is driven by the belief that leadership is a collective activity that requires mutual inquiry and learning. When leaders create collaborative, interdependent cultures, their teams can more easily and effectively bridge organizational silos. And that nimbleness can help them adapt to rapid changes, drawing on the expertise and insight of internal colleagues and external partners and stakeholders.

Here are six truths you must understand to become a more interdependent leader:

Relying on other people does not equal weakness; it creates strength.

Reid Hoffman, the chairman and co-founder of LinkedIn Corporation, partner at Greylock and coauthor of The Start-up of You, famously said, "No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you're playing a solo game, you'll always lose out to a team." He was speaking of the importance of workplace collaboration, cited by LinkedIn in its annual Global Talent Trends 2019 report as a top five soft skill vitally important for the future of the workplace. When you create a culture that embraces collaboration, you draw on the highest and best use of each team member's talents.

Everything and everyone is—or can be—connected.

Interdependent leaders see the possibilities—no matter how obscure—in everything, and understand and how that connectivity can be put to use. These people combine two seemingly disparate things, often finding that something special emerges. In the business world, it's the juxtaposition of ideas, the mashup of styles, the hybrid of ideas that can create an entirely new category, product or service.

Fostering and maintaining relationships is crucial.

In your career, no one goes it alone; relationships are everything. Your ability to connect with others matters, whether you're trying to collaborate or communicate with them. When you adjust your perspective and increase your awareness that people power business, you'll naturally employ empathy to put yourself in their shoes to better understand your colleagues and clients, which will build stronger relationships.

Empowering people builds trust.

Micromanaging doesn't happen with interdependent leaders because they don't feel the need to be in control. Instead, they empower those in their charge to manage their projects and teams, simply requesting that they maintain open lines of communication. This frees up the leader to tackle other issues while building trust with their direct report.

Leading with positivity trumps leading with fear.

Insecurity causes some to lead by fear and makes them reluctant to share information. By contrast, interdependent leaders tend to be confident, allowing positivity and openness to shine, which naturally draws others to them.

Taking risks and embracing failure are opportunities to grow.

Interdependent leaders are not risk-averse and see embracing their failures as the key to their success. They know that failure and success aren't mutually exclusive; they're connected. Entrepreneurs and business leaders use failure as fuel, maintaining grit and perseverance to keep going. By adopting a growth mindset, they view every interaction, every project, and yes, every failure as an opportunity to get better.

This articles was first published on Forbes.com. Find it here.

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?Amy Blaschka is a social media ghostwriter who helps leaders communicate and connect better. Contact her if you'd like her help.?

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