Collaborative leadership to subvert marginalisation: the workings of a socio-educational network in Los Asperones, Spain

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article analyses the collaborative leadership of a network-based approach that seeks to subvert the social inequality suffered by the residents of Los Asperones (Málaga, Spain), where approximately one thousand people live in extreme exclusion. The network is made up of various socio-educational associations, schools and social services. The main techniques for collecting information were focus groups, interviews and observations. The sample was representative of all the groups living in the area and of the network members. The data were processed using Atlas.ti software. The results show the foundations, strategies and key challenges of the existing collaborative leadership in the network. The foundations include the commitment shared by the various agents involved; the recognition of the value of the other, and the pre-eminence of the ‘we’ perspective over the ‘I’ perspective; symptomatic of a move from an ‘ego’ leadership to an ‘eco’ leadership. The main methodological strategies employed were: trust, communication, co-responsibility and shared time and space. The lack of time and political dependencies were identified as the major challenges that could weaken or hinder the success of the network’s collaborative action.