If you’ve worked on project teams—big or small—you know the drill: divide the work, keep things moving, hit the deadline. On the surface, it works. But beneath that smooth coordination, something important can be missing.
I’ve been part of teams where everything ran efficiently. Personalities aligned, tasks were assigned, and no one stepped on anyone’s toes. But we weren’t solving problems together, challenging each other’s thinking, or building something better through collective effort. We were managing logistics, not leading through collaboration.
- Coordination is about keeping things organized—who’s doing what, when. It’s task management (e.g., assigning roles to avoid duplication).
- Collaboration is about creating something better through shared thinking. It’s collective problem-solving (e.g., sitting down as a team to figure out the best solution together).
As a leader, it’s easy to fall into the coordination trap. It feels efficient. But it can lead to rework, missed opportunities, and flat outcomes. Without true collaboration, you lose the spark that drives innovation and strong results.
- Set Time for Joint Thinking: Don’t just split up tasks—build in time for brainstorming and problem-solving together.
- Create a Safe Environment: Make sure people know it’s safe to speak up, challenge ideas, and contribute. Without psychological safety, there is no real collaboration.
- Intentionally Diversify the Room: Don’t stack your team with people who think alike. Mix in different perspectives—even pull in voices from outside the core team if needed.
Managing tasks keeps the team moving. Leading collaboration propels the team forward. Don’t just keep the engine running—guide your team to think together, solve together, and build outcomes no one could achieve alone. That’s real leadership.
Collaboration doesn’t happen by accident—it takes intentional leadership. If you’re stepping into a new leadership role and want to build a team that thinks, solves, and succeeds together, download our quick-start guide, How to Lead Your New Team. It’s packed with practical tips to help you move beyond task management and into true team leadership.
