Community-based organizations boost engagement levels – and profits

With the deepening economic crisis and increased complexity, volatility and pace of change, it is obvious that traditional management and leadership approaches do not work anymore. The need for a new mindset and leadership skills has never been more urgent. Having researched this area for years, the author strongly believe that the solution is in a community-based, collaborative approach where leaders eschew a formal power, delegate responsibilities rather than tasks, relax their control and empower employees to make decisions on the basis of their knowledge, skills and experience rather than on their formal position in the organizational hierarchy. When such a community-based culture is implemented, employees are intrinsically motivated to perform well, a strong team ethos is developed, staff engagement is improved and levels of stress and absenteeism are reduced. The evidence for benefits of collaborative, community-based culture in organizations is growing as research aimed at helping organizations achieve such a culture is ongoing.