A paradigm shift has occurred within the field of leadership toward a more relational view that emphasizes the connections among the entities involved in leadership. Although relationships are inherent to historical, heroic conceptualizations of leadership and in contemporary leadership approaches, this paradigm shift recognizes that teams, organizations, coalitions, communities, networks, systems, and other collectives carry out leadership functions through a collective social process.
Collective engagement in leadership by multiple individuals and larger entities sharing multiple leadership roles through both formal and informal relationships is a required capability for facing increasingly complex workplaces and non-work situations.