How to Lead in a Room of Leaders
By Amy Beckius Johnson and Katelyn Page
In any high-functioning, multi-disciplinary team such as a SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) the room is often filled with strong, independent leaders. Members come from a wide range of fields such as law enforcement, prosecution, advocacy, and healthcare, each an expert in their own right. The collective expertise and shared passion are what bring these leaders together to tackle complex community challenges.
While these teams are built upon the foundation of leadership, this variety can also create challenges. When people accustomed to taking charge in their own domains come together, there’s potential for conflict and competing priorities… So, how can we successfully lead in a room full of leaders? Here are a few strategies for leading high-performing teams while fostering collaboration and mutual respect:
Establish a Shared Vision
Before diving into the work at hand, it’s crucial to establish a clear, shared vision. A common purpose that combines everyone’s efforts and encourages commitment from all members, regardless of their expertise. If your team has a vision and mission statement, take time to review it to make sure there is a shared understanding.
Empower and Delegate
Leadership isn’t just about directing; it’s about empowering others. Recognize the leadership potential within your team and delegate responsibilities based on each person’s strengths and expertise. When folks are given the autonomy to lead in specific areas, it boosts morale, enhances accountability, and strengthens team cohesion. For example, folks are more likely to prioritize a meeting when they are presenting their committee’s work.
Facilitate Decision-Making
Rather than taking the reins on every decision, guide the group through a structured decision-making process. Your team can develop a shared vision process for the team. Facilitate conversations that encourage different perspectives and constructive debate. Encourage team members to share their expertise and make sure everyone has a seat at the table.
Provide Support
Even experienced leaders need support and opportunities to grow. Provide places for tough conversations, and training opportunities for the team. When team members feel supported, they are more likely to bring their best selves to the table.
Trust
Trust is the foundation of any successful team. Investing time in building strong, authentic relationships within the team is essential. Trust is built through transparency, open communication, and mutual respect. When trust is established, collaboration flourishes. A team of leaders that trust one another will work cohesively, even in times of disagreement.
At the end of the day, members of SART teams require time to create buy-in among members and agreements on a shared purpose. To build support and create a policy that best supports survivors and their communities. When we remember this, it becomes easy to move forward in the same direction as the team.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss navigating team dynamics or leadership skills further, please contact us at svji@mncasa.org.
This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-22-GK-04024-RURA awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.