Communication as a Collaborative Tool

Angelina Spaulding
COM 430: Leadership Group Communication
Arizona State University
College of Letters and Sciences

Communication as a Collaborative Tool

The word best used to describe an individual that carries out a leaders direction,
is a Collaborator. It is important to distinguish why an individual is best referred to as
a collaborator and rather not as a follower, constituent or stakeholder. Hackman and
Johnson (2013) describe the human communication process [as]...not a thing, [but]
rather as a process (p. 6). Communication is a continuous interaction that has a
variety of turning points that facilitates the dealings of others. Followers should not be
considered simple as submissive, but should also be viewed as potential leaders. A
leader may be a follower in the regards to a hierarchical position within an institute, or
as an emergent leader in a non-formal role (Northouse, 2015), but nonetheless both
roles at some time or another will both need to be filled.
A constituent is an individual that is authorized by others to act. Is granted
permission to speak as another's voice. A constituents power as a leader can be
appointed or derived. In a formal setting a constituent is not likely the more ideal
response, unless an individual is voted or appointed into the position by followers. A
stakeholder is another consideration that involves the leader and the follower, and those
within and without any given organization. Yet, in any moment a leader may also be
considered a stakeholder in any decision made; because, whatever decision, action or
choice made, it will always come back onto the leader.
For those reasons, the choice of collaborator is made as an ideal consideration
for those that are perceived as subordinates within any given organization. A
collaborator communicates knowledge, ideas, and perspectives that a leader in a

situation may not consider. A leader facilitates organizational goals by means of the
power and intellect of its people, and for that reason should consider others as
collaborators and not see organizational members as followers, constituents or
stakeholders. It is important to note, that in most situations these terms are universal.
However, placing oneself in a leadership position it would be more important to care for
the individuals within the organization to help better the overall group through
partnership and not hierarchical division.

References:

Hackman, M.Z. & Johnson, C.E. (2013). Leadership: A communication perspective

(6th Ed.). Long Grove, Illinois: Waveland Press, Inc.
Northouse, P.G. (2015). Leadership: Theory and practice (7th Ed.). Washington, D.C.:
Sage Publications, Inc.