S.P.A.R.K. Something Great: Building Innovative and Collaborative Teams

Leadership is not always complicated. In fact, some of the most impactful leaders I know aren’t the ones with the most impressive titles—they’re the ones who listen deeply, build trust, and help their team members shine. As someone who spent her career in education, working with PreK through university-level faculty and students, I’ve come to believe that effective leadership is more about presence than power. 

I developed S.P.A.R.K. as a way to organize my thoughts on building collaborative and innovative teams. It reflects not only the strategies that I currently use but also the strategies that I aspire to use more frequently in the future. It’s not fancy—just five things that have helped me lead more intentionally and to support my team. 

Unfortunately, I’ve found that sometimes, as leaders, we focus so much on tasks or checking off our to-do lists that we forget that freedom and creativity are what engage our faculty and differentiate us from everyone else. We often forget to make room for innovation and collaboration.  

For me, it comes down to 5 simple concepts: supporting psychological safety, promoting curiosity, amplifying voices, removing silos, and empowering others.

S — Support Psychological Safety 

When people feel safe speaking up and taking risks, great things happen. As leaders, we set the tone; that could look like encouraging honest dialogue, actively listening when others are speaking, or even just responding to mistakes as learning opportunities. Psychological safety also means showing our own vulnerability—being real, even when it’s a little uncomfortable. 

P — Promote Curiosity 

Curiosity isn’t just for students—it’s a leadership superpower!  Curious teams adapt faster and find better solutions. We can model this by asking “What if?” instead of saying “That won’t work.” Try giving your team permission to explore new ideas without needing all the answers up front. Ask questions instead of giving solutions.  

A — Amplify Voices 

Real inclusion means more than just “inviting people to the table,” it is making sure that they're heard. It’s important to recognize that diverse perspectives often lead to better ideas and decisions. Once we understand, we can start to structure our meetings, brainstorming sessions, and even our hallway conversations differently. Try asking, “Who haven’t we heard from yet?” and watch what happens. Then, purposefully invite those who are not a part of the conversation to join in. 

R — Remove Silos 

Education can be a silo-heavy, eggcrate-type of environment, but it doesn’t have to be. Great leaders reach across departments and break down barriers. They build bridges, not walls. Ask yourself: who else should be a part of this conversation? What partnerships could help us move forward together? Connect with those in other departments. 

K — Keep Empowering 

Empowerment is something you must actively practice. It’s in the words we choose—such as “I trust your judgment”—and in the way we delegate and support others. When people feel trusted, they step into their own leadership. And that’s how we grow not just individuals but the entire organization. 

If you’re in a leadership role now—or growing into one—know this: you don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be intentional. Pick one letter from S.P.A.R.K. to focus on this week. Ask yourself what small shift you could make in how you lead, listen, or support others. 

Because leadership isn’t about being in charge. It’s about lighting the way—and sparking something meaningful in others.