How Do Leaders of Nonprofit Partnerships Foster Collaboration?

A recent study makes clear that collaborative leaders have different capabilities and use different tools than traditional managers. This research shows that nonprofit managers use 4 categories of activities to foster collaboration: 1. Synthesis involves building relationships so that members of the collaboration can work together toward a common purpose. 2. The second most important class of activities, according to collaborative leaders, is framing, or giving shape to the network's purpose, thus providing "the glue that holds the network together." 3. Collaborative leaders use activation activities to secure, manage, and integrate resources, stakeholders, and participants. 4. Mobilizing activities build the credibility and support needed for the partnership to achieve its purpose. This research suggests that leading a collaboration is not for the inexperienced or faint of heart. The collaborative leader needs a full management tool kit centered on competent use of synthesis, framing, activation, and mobilization activities.