Like many agency leaders, I needed to own the most important decisions and work. I was lucky to have a collaborative leader and colleagues who helped me learn how diverse perspectives create more powerful work. Hearing things that challenged my thinking and my authority turned out to be the gateway to growth. You could say they developed my collaboration IQ. While it happens in teams, it starts at the top with a mindset, structure, and practices aimed at everyone winning together. Without the willingness, you’ll try to make collaboration work and then break the model.