Leadership that supports the team is critical to high performance. There is a strong similarity between the leadership components of both models of effective teams, Shared Leadership and Discipline (learn more by clicking on those pages). In fact, by integrating the two models we come to a comprehensive understanding of supportive leadership.
The Vertical Manager: Facilitating team discipline
The vertical manager, a manager from outside the team, clarifies the purpose and challenge for the team, but in a general enough way to allow the team flexibility and innovation in meeting the challenge. The vertical manager sets specific performance goals. In addition, the vertical manager may suggest the clear rules of behavior for the team as a way of initiating a culture and expectation of team discipline.
Self-Leadership: The heart of shared leadership
Each member of the team must exercise self-leadership, which “is defined as a process through which people influence themselves to achieve the self-direction and self-motivation needed to perform.” Self-leadership includes self-regulation, self-control, self-management, and intrinsic (internal) motivation.
SuperLeadership
SuperLeadership “is a term used to describe the process of leading others to lead themselves…[SuperLeaders strive] to develop followers who are effective self-leaders.”
So the SuperLeader takes on the role of the “manager from outside,” giving overall direction on purpose and task, but goes beyond that to help transform the team from a group of separate individuals into a purposeful, effective group of self-leaders.
It may seem contradictory that the Shared Leadership model includes a SuperLeader. It makes sense, though, when we remember that a team does not exist on its own or for itself — a team exists to carry out the overall purpose or mission of the organization by achieving a task or producing a result that is collective, above and beyond what any individual team member can do.
Supportive Leadership Summarized
- Management and SuperLeadership from someone outside the team. Most likely this person will be a higer-level manager or leader in the organization.
- Self-leadership by each team member. This means all team members must be aware of their own strengths, weaknesses, and how they can contribute to the team purpose and task.
Supportive Leadership and Virtual Teams: Is it possible?
Like the other components of High Performance Teams, Supportive Leadership is possible but not easy for Virtual Teams. Click on the “Challenges” page for more information!
