Distributive Leadership - We Will Survive

          In our workplace, despite it being small in size, there is a clear understanding that the leadership skills are spread throughout and are fostered in a way so they can continue to grow to benefit the entire program and the people it serves, as well as the individual staff member.  The leaders of the program have the ability to identify certain strengths in others and either discover or create opportunities for them to use these strengths and improve upon them.  They have done a great job of helping the employee recognize these strengths, too.  Whenever they can, they empower employees to take an idea and run with it to see how it can benefit the program and those served.  If they can find grants or other funding to enhance employee training opportunities, they will.

     

        Another reason distributive leadership is present in our agency is for basic survival reasons.  We are a non-profit program that is in operation because we were awarded a contract by the State.  The State can withdraw our contract at any time if they feel we are not performing to standards.  Non-profits are also at risk of losing funding each year.   By distributing the leadership throughout the program, our leaders enable capacity building to take place.  The more individuals who are able to perform multiple roles, the more likely we will be strong in our service and we will be able to withstand any budget cuts that may come our way.