As a Senior Research Associate at the Harvard Center for Labor and a Just Economy (formerly known as the Labor and Worklife Program), I facilitate discussions on collective bargaining, leadership, and organizational development, particularly aimed at union audiences. Additionally, I have collaborated directly with numerous public and private sector unions across North America on these topics and more. I frequently speak at Harvard's annual Trade Union Program, concentrating on the dynamics between a union's leadership and its members.
Unlike most "leadership training" that seeks to dictate leadership behavior, my research shifts the focus to explore leadership from the follower's viewpoint. How does the member (whom I often refer to as followers) assess the leader and organization when deciding to increase their engagement? I believe the retail and academic focus on leadership overlooks the essential point – to be an effective leader, one must understand their roles and responsibilities from the follower's perspective. This approach addresses concerns I've heard from union leaders about declining engagement, member apathy, and how to tackle the larger challenges facing organized labor. The frequent question is, “How do we get our members more involved?”
This relationship involves numerous components, yet fundamentally, it revolves around an individual’s decision on the worth of investing more in the union (in terms of time and effort). This is especially true for newer generations of workers who lack experience with unions or who hold negative perceptions of them.
The issue of enhancing member commitment and participation is central to my ongoing doctoral research. How can we reshape the leader-follower dynamic to foster engagement, leverage, power, and influence within your organization?
If you would like to learn more about how we foster member commitment and involvement, or if you're interested in the various support options we offer, please email us at info@colelabour.ca
