The traditional political leadership style of ‘advocacy' (where a leader tries to convince the audience of their point of view) has been the cornerstone of our political system in the UK. However, it is not a behaviour conducive to forming the coalition government. With Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders agreeing that forming a strong and stable coalition government is in the best interests of the country, they will need to move to a different style of leadership to ensure this happens.
Coalition party leaders, and to a large extent their party members, will need to balance traditional ‘advocacy' with a position of ‘inquiry', where they seek to truly understand each other's point of view instead of automatically criticising it. They'll need to learn to listen in a completely different way to that which has worked for them in the past. They'll need to pick out the positives in another's point of view and encourage their opponents to challenge their own. Indeed the very language that is at the heart of UK politics will need to change if attitudes are expected to change. Politicians will have to become used to referring to the "opposition" as their colleagues.
It all sounds rather a high mountain to climb but having worked on some of the most successful business mergers in the UK over the past decade, where two competing companies have been put together for the common good, at Lane4 we know this can be achieved.
In business, success starts with an acknowledgement of common ground and an appeal to the higher goal in which both parties have a vested interest and passion to achieve. So far, so good, as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have agreed on the overall objective - to form a strong and stable government, creating an environment in which the economy can recover and the black hole in the nation's finances is tackled.
The advocacy skills of political leaders have been clear to see over the last few months. We've heard about their opinions, policies, priorities with very little cross-party agreement. They have worked hard to convince the public that their approach is the best one for us all. Now the tide has changed and a more inquiring approach is needed.
Productive inquiry from leaders will involve exploring each other's thinking and assumptions. It will also mean suspending judgements they have been quick to make in the past and looking at how they may be missing what the other is doing that makes sense. In doing so, one critical success factor without which no partnership can succeed is built; namely - trust.
Traditionally, conflict is viewed as negative, destructive and something to be avoided. But actually, if people's conflict is managed skilfully, it can be a positive, creative force when it comes to collaboration. Without different views, teams can lack innovation, becoming stale and unresponsive to change. This is an opportunity that any leadership coalition must recognise and seize.
During the election debates the public's greatest disapproval of all three leaders happened when they started attacking each other. So, if a coalition wants to get the public support, their effective collaboration is critical.
Dominic Mahony, Europe practice director at Lane4
Coalition government needs to put new style of leadership at heart of UK politics
The last month has seen a sea change in the way politics is conducted in the UK. Not since the fall of Margaret Thatcher has the public been so enthralled by the personal styles of those in power, or potentially in power. The televised debates, a successful campaign innovation, engaged a whole new generation with the political process and the "Clegg bounce" proved they didn't necessarily like what they saw.
