Can There Be Too Many Leaders In Your Company?

One of the most asked questions at leadership training courses in Melbourne is: Can a company have too many leaders?

Too many cooks spoil the broth – or do they?

You may have heard of the common idiom above, yet, unlike what many people believe, effective leadership is not a competitive pursuit – or where one person’s success devalues another. Instead, great leadership tends to develop other leaders and add value wherever it is found.

As the team becomes one of the most important units of production, the ability to share leadership can add flexibility to any workplace environment.

Researchers from Michigan State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Technical University Dresden found that shared leadership can create a more interactive workplace. It drives team members to take responsibility for both actions and outcomes through a collective social influence.

As humans have a fundamental need to belong to social groups – for survival and prosperity reasons – they also need to conform to other peoples’ beliefs and values. Implementing a shared leadership model can play on this and drive team members to work together in pursuit of shared goals.

Lots of bosses but not enough leaders

While there can never be too many leaders, a more common problem is the abundance of bosses and a lack of leadership.

Too many bosses can lead to an uninspired workplace and deeply ingrained hierarchy. To remedy this, a course in leadership can assist teams in adding value to their workplace.

For instance, attending a training course can help you and your team learn to be self-aware and mindful of everything around you – allowing you to make more informed decisions that sync with others.

While most organisations are trying to nurture leadership potential, in the meantime there are ways to develop and hone your leadership skills. One way to achieve this is by attending leadership training delivered by experienced trainers in the field.