Exploring the depth of collaboration, identity, and leadership through diverse lenses.

In our most recent cuppa and yarn, we delved into the themes of collective leadership. The discussion illuminated the ways in which collective leadership is both a guiding force and a challenge, especially when navigating pressures and competing values like meeting outcomes vs time to kōrero, wānanga, talanoa, yarn, listen and connect. Here’s what we learned together.

The challengers of collective leadership are many.

It was acknowledged generally that the challenges of collective leadership can be many, though a common thread among us is that it seems that we agreed and shared in its potential depending on the ways you go about doing ‘collective leadership’.

It was generally agreed that at times it can be time intensive for all parties e.g role definition can take more discussion and negotiation; there can be conflicts between groups and individuals due to personalities, ego, and unequal power relations means that results can take a lot longer to emerge – not a quick fix.

Collective Leadership in Time of Stress or Crisis

One of the key takeaways from the conversation was how collective leadership becomes strained under pressure. "Collective leadership and collaboration is more important than ever," particularly in times of stress on people and systems; it can lead to competition rather than cooperation. "It creates undue competition... collective leadership disappears... people come inwardly and just focus on survival." This sentiment resonated with many in the group, especially as we explored how organisations may struggle to balance individual survival with the desire for collaboration.

The same participant shared this African Proverb: "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together” which speaks the wisdom of what collective leadership should aim to achieve—bringing people together for the long haul, and working with challenges and obstacles as you journey together.

Te Ao Māori Perspectives

Our discussion shifted to how cultural identity plays a role in shaping leadership perspectives. One participant shared their personal journey of reconnecting with their Māori identity: "I was raised in a very westernised model of being... both my parents were Māori, but did not think Māori... as an adult, I decided to delve into my indigeneity and learn who I am, my identity as Māori." They discovered that, although their upbringing seemed Western on the surface, the essence of their Māori heritage was and is deeply ingrained: "The depth of what we were taught where the bones are in our Māori heritage come from that."

This realisation brought forth a conversation about indigenous perspectives about leadership which inherently defaults to a collective-individual, different from a Western perspective which often starts with the individual-collective. It could be better understood by drawing from this participant’s offering: “Our connection with our environment automatically makes us a collective thinker... because we know that we are part of our environment, which is a whole lot of different entities apart from ourselves."

Everyone is a Leader

Leadership, particularly in a community context, also emerged as a key theme. One participant, shared the recognition of leadership within community spaces: “Leadership from a two-world perspective, one which comes from Te Ao Maori, is the comfortable place for me to make leadership choices and decisions, but I can't eliminate myself from being in a community of leaders as well, and it's acknowledging that, the leaders walk through the doors of community centres every day.... acknowledging their Mana Motuhake, their ability to be a leader without any preconceived notions."

Prompting, Not Teaching

This perspective reminded us that leadership is often about guiding others to find their own path and ways forward: "It's easy to fall into the trap of being the educator for others around indigenous leadership... You're giving a particular worldview, you're not necessarily there to be the teacher, it is about people taking that journey themselves, and you're giving them some prompts.

“He uru kahikatea” - A Whakataukī - Proverb

A written reflection from one of our manuhiri brought the discussion full circle by grounding collective leadership in the wisdom of nature: "Te Ao Māori consistently reminds me of the wisdom and reality of learning with, and from, the natural environment. This whakataukī speaks to the interdependence of kahikatea... their root systems are intertwined, and through this network of connections, they stand strong."

This metaphor of interconnectedness beautifully illustrated the strength that can come from collective leadership with the recognition that the process [of active collective leadership] is not without its difficulties: "Collective leadership can provide a way for funders, providers, and communities to identify key issues... but it can be time-intensive... and there can be conflicts between groups and individuals due to personalities, ego, and unequal power relations."

Next Cuppa: Two-Way and The Between World

Our collective reflection on leadership left us with much to consider. A suggestion was to explore between cultures, the difference, similarities and ways from different cultural viewpoints: "It would be good to listen to other points of view around collective leadership from two different spaces, from two different worlds... considering the following questions:

1. What elements are present in each world-view?
2. How do they differ from the other?
3. Are there similarities?

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We meet every Friday, 11am New Zealand Time for 30 Minutes. The topics we talk about come from our conversations.