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Generational diversity is the new normal in most communities and organizations. Millennials now make up much of the US workforce (Brownstone, 2014). As baby boomers enter retirement and Millennials enter leadership positions, the paradigms and models of leadership must be reexamined, and possibly swept away. In light of the global pandemic, civic unrest, and political upheaval, it may be time to reexamine leadership theories considering the differences between Millennials and other generational cohorts. According to the Harvard Business Review (HBR), these differences include an increased desire for work-life balance, a preference for higher levels of manager support and feedback, and a stronger relationship between job satisfaction and turnover. In addition, Millennials are more concerned with societal level change. Their advocacy centers on equal opportunity for all regardless of demographic designation.
Shared Leadership is a concept in which leadership is broadly distributed among a set of individuals or organizations. There are striking similarities between the achievable outcomes of Shared Leadership and the factors needed to achieve self-determination in underserved communities. Partnerships between not-for-profit organizations serve as catalysts for community empowerment in which community members can take actions to effect change in policy and practices that influence their lives. Cross-cultural Shared Leadership between organizations involve a group of three or more legally autonomous community-based organizations (CBO) that work together to achieve, not only their own goals, but also a collective goal. It is believed that, through these partnerships, organizations involved could increase their own capabilities and to improve the services they provide. Further, through the process of working collaboratively on a project for the betterment of their community, participants may build on their own capacities and skills and feel empowered.
An example of shared leadership between culturally diverse community-based organizations was on display Saturday August 1st in San Antonio! The San Antonio Coalition for Police Accountability and Black Lives Matter among other CBOs executed the Drive for Black lives protest! The Car caravan and food drive which attracted close to 300 mobile participants, was an act of local solidarity with a nationwide march for Black lives matter. The San Antonio Coalition for Police Accountability is a group of local organizations that approaches public safety reform from multiple perspectives. These collaborative bridges the gap of younger, newly inspired organizers with experienced legacy leaders to consider every aspect of the problems San Antonio faces in public safety and systemic racism.
Shared Leadership as “a dynamic, interactive influence process among individuals in groups for which the objective is to lead one another to the achievement of community objectives. Leadership is broadly distributed among a set of individuals, instead of being in the hands of an individual who acts as a superior. Marlon Davis who co-hosted the event was quick to acknowledge, “shared leadership is not restricted to individuals within our organization.” Shared Leadership between organizations across a range of sectors including, but not limited to, community development, environmental racism, Census2020, and the 2020 elections. The future looks promising thanks to our millennials with a mission.
