Adequate Staffing and training arc critical factors in a team's success. Teams that had at least one well-trained person with time to dedicate to the collaboration were more likely to succeed than even teams with significantly more funding but no dedicated staffing. The CLIA Round Table provided opportunities for skills building where participants could learn and practice tools for collaborative leadership and problem solving. Teams that took time to get to know one another on a personal level were more effective in the implementation of tasks than those teams that focused on tasks alone. Methodical attention to team building helped groups more effectively manage diversity and difference than did a single focus on tasks and outcomes.
Diversity is strength when it comes to collaborative leadership.
Although smaller, less diverse teams could make internal decisions more quickly, teams with broad community representation found it easier to implement initiatives and build consensus outside their group. CLIA provided a rare venue for dialogue among a diverse array of thinkers on these issues, exposing differences in approach and philosophy that deserve further study. More forums, and more diverse forums, should be provided to continue the dialogue.