In a rapidly changing business environment, one leadership approach has proven powerful in fostering innovation and success: collaborative leadership!
Instead of just zeroing in on individual wins or segregation between separate departments, collaborative leaders take a team-first approach. As they say, there is no “I” in “team.” Leaders listen, keep the conversation open, and they help create a space where people feel safe sharing ideas and info. It’s this kind of vibe that helps an organization’s overall success.
Here’s a quick look at what makes collaborative leaders so effective, and how CUWAA is building these skills through our unique MBA and continuing education programs.
Key Characteristics of Collaborative Leaders
- Sponsoring Collaboration
- Active Coaching
- Building Community
- Balancing Relationships and Tasks
- Clear Roles with Flexible Tasks
- Psychological Safety
Collaborative leadership is all about teamwork, communication, and supporting each other to reach for the common good of the workplace and its employees. Leaders who believe in collaborative leadership don’t just make decisions on their own–they listen, encourage dialogue, and create a space where everyone’s ideas matter.
CU Inc.’s Collaboration with Walgreens
Earlier this year, CUWAA partnered with Walgreens to provide leadership development for their employees. This collaboration showcased CUWAA’s approach to business education, where leadership is not just about profit but about integrating values, ethics, and holistic well-being into the workplace.
Deaconess Kim Schave, PhD, CPA, Director of MBA Programs at CUWAA, shared her perspective:
“I am very grateful for the opportunity that Walgreens afforded us to contribute to the development of their employees on the topic of Collaborative Leadership. It provided them with a glimpse of what we offer in our MBA and Continuing Education programs. Beyond just a focus on profits, our programs incorporate sustained advantages by integrating ethics and values into our curriculum. We are intentional about helping students thrive in mind, body, and spirit and preparing students for success in their business vocations.”
CUWAA’s MBA Program
We understand the importance of having collaborative skills in the workplace, CUWAA has designed an MBA program that understands a student’s development. We prepare leaders who are well-rounded in mind, body, and spirit.
Here are three ways Concordia’s MBA program prepares students to lead in collaborative environment:
Personalized support
CUWAA assigns each MBA student a Student Engagement Specialist who supports them at every step of their academic journey.
Experiential learning
MBA students will complete six credits of experiential learning, choosing from; internships, global study programs, and specialized certifications in areas such as Six Sigma and project management.
Focused development
The MBA curriculum emphasizes both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Students can customize their education by selecting from 12 concentration areas, ensuring that they gain expertise relevant to their goals.
Want in?
Collaborative leadership is essential for the success and growth of any organization. CUWAA’s MBA and continuing education programs are specifically crafted to develop leaders and prepare them, so they can create workplaces that inspire and empower others. Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body, and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world. To learn more about continuing education opportunities at CUW, click the link below.