Stronger Together: Answering the Questions of Collaborative Leadership

by Terri L. Martin, Cameron L. Rains

With foreword by Robert J. Marzano What kind of leader am I? What is my leadership style? How do I best tap into others' skills? How do I build collaborative leadership teams? New and veteran leaders alike ask themselves these questions. Stronger Together will help you face your current reality and determine action steps for improvement. You will discover how to engender trust and empower teams, creating a collaborative culture and, ultimately, improving student achievement. Build a healthy culture of collaborative leadership in
Introduction
Chapter 1: What Kind of Leader Am I?
Chapter 2: How Can I Earn Trust?
Chapter 3: How Do I Build Teams of Collaborative Leaders?
Chapter 4: How Can I Help Develop a Vision?
Chapter 5: How Can I Support Collaborative Teams?
Chapter 6: What, When, and How Should I Communicate?
Concluding Thoughts
References and Resources
Index

120 pages, Perfect Paperback

Published April 27, 2018

Reviews

[Jessica Burns-Turch · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Exceptional leaders understand that leadership is not facilitating a series of activities, but rather guiding and encouraging people on the journey” (Martin & Rains, pg. 67). Stronger Together takes leaders on a journey of team building guidance while learning how to unlock the gifts of each team member with the ultimate goal of true collaboration. This quick read provides a brainstorming template and collaborative activities at the end of each chapter. The templates are equipped with action steps meant to be used for personal growth no matter the role one currently holds.

While reading and discussing this book, our book group appreciated a consistent theme of examining our current reality in order to make a plan for moving forward. This helped illustrate the point that being a collaborative leader is an ongoing process and one can continuously improve. As a book club, all four of us engaged in the chapter exercises, which enhanced our leadership platforms.

As this book is published by Solution Tree, there are many connections with other works by Solution Tree related to Professional Learning Communities, which is all related to educators working interdependently to ensure every student succeeds in school. Unlike these other books, Stronger Together (Martin & Rains, 2018) has useful tools that leaders in other industries can use to reflect on their practices and ways to grow as a collaborative leader.

Stronger Together successfully achieves exactly what the author’s intentions were: to help the reader recognize their current leadership framework while guiding them to define what action plans they require for further improvement. Each of the six chapters is laid out as a critical question that the reader is to reflect on: what kind of leader am I, how can I earn trust, how do I build teams, how can I help develop a vision, how can I support teams, and when and how should I communicate. The premise of the book is to ensure that leaders understand that one cannot lead effectively in isolation and each chapter builds on that understanding, from self-reflection or understanding yourself as a leader to learning how to construct a collaborative team through your individual efforts.

Overall, Stronger Together is a solid foundational read for educational leaders at all stages in their careers. The language is clear and easy to read without being lofty, elevated, or daunting. Each section states the intended purposes, provides examples, gives numerous tools, and even reflection opportunities to support the reader’s growth as a collaborative leader. As the foreword states, the book is very straightforward, as it aims to prove that no one can lead alone (Martin & Rains, 2018). However, this is also one of the challenges of the book. For anyone looking to dig deeper into collaborative leadership or looking to take the concept further, the authors simply do not provide that opportunity. In fact, as you read, you will probably be left with many burning questions about your own practices as a collaborative leader and the practices of your organization, but they will go unanswered. It is unclear as to whether this is intentional or perhaps if this is a selling technique for other works by Solution Tree.

~Felicia Hamilton, Jennie Jeminez, Danielle Swann, Jessica Burns-Turch

[Pretty George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stronger Together: Answering the Questions of Collaborative Leadership by Terri L. Martin & Cameron L. Rains

Lead with vision and build your teams with collaboration. Stronger Together allows leaders to assess where they are today and plan their leadership journey ahead. The book provides excellent exercises to complete and thought-provoking questions to steer a leader’s journey. The Book Ranking is 4 Stars. The book is well laid out and well written for all industry leaders.

The goal of Stronger Together is to meld the theories of collaborative leadership into practical applications for educators. Specific thought prompts and questions allow the reader to turn the ideas into applications and self-discovery. The book leads readers through six different focus points: Leadership Style, Earning Trust, Team Building, Vision, Support, and Communication. The focus points allow leaders to reflect on areas to improve and build towards becoming transformational leaders.

Stronger Together offers solid and valuable content for a new leader in the education space. There are many impactful collaborative theories and reflective questions that allow for practical solutions. Additionally, the book provides templates and tools that can be readily applied in practice. The book, however, is very specific to educators and may cause non-educational industry leaders to become disenchanted with the value of the book’s content. Though the leadership ideas are valid, nothing is specifically new or breakthrough. The reflective questions are great for newer leaders who have not been exposed to fundamental leadership principles. Those with experience will likely find the content a great reminder of those principles.

Stronger Together provides a logical flow for readers to follow and understand. New leaders will benefit from the questions and exercises to develop themselves and their team members. The authors continually remind readers that it is vital for collaborative leaders to:
Not only listen but hear what others have to say
Thoughtfully plan all projects
Apply multiple communication methodologies to share the message
Not only to celebrate outcomes but to also celebrate progress
Book is great for:
Educators
New leaders (Beginning to intermediate)
New Project Managers (Theory-Based)
New Project Deployment Teams

[Keri Mignano · Rating 4 out of 5]

On July 20, 1979, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon’s surface. This monumental moment in history, however, was not an individual endeavor. On the contrary, this successful mission was a culmination of tremendous efforts from 400,000 engineers, technicians, scientists, and astronauts. The collaboration of many helped the team achieve something that would otherwise be impossible by a single person. In his famous quote, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” Aristotle echoes the idea that more can be accomplished together than alone. Terri L. Martin and Cameron L. Rains’ book Stronger Together launches readers into the world of education with an approach to leadership that promotes collaboration as a way to improve student success. Combining almost 50 years of experience in education, Martin and Rains provide information and practical reproducible resources to support leaders and teachers seeking to promote positive student growth through collaboration. Authors purposefully select chapter titles that reflect crucial collaborative elements. The book begins with a look inward, asking readers to reflect on their skill sets as they relate to collaborative practices. As readers continue their expedition, key components of collaborative teams are discussed, including trust, vision, support, and communication. The content provided is relevant and actionable, helping to envision how these ideas can be used in the context of a school organization. Including reflective questions encourages readers to consider who they are as collaborators and strategically create an environment that promotes a collective mindset to increase student achievement.

Martin and Rains tactfully begin the book with a profound exploration of self-awareness and its transformative power in shaping one's leadership and collaborative abilities. Stronger Together by Martin and Rains makes a powerful argument for the importance of collaborative leadership in today’s complex educational environment. The authors emphasize the difference between mere self-knowledge and embodying leadership qualities. They argue that possessing these attributes is insufficient; they must be effectively applied in specific situations to make a real impact. This realization has the potential to significantly boost our confidence as leaders.

Subsequently, the authors delve into the essential components of trust, visioning ability, and communication skills in collaboration. Echoing the work of Kouzes and Posner (2012), Martin and Rains (2018) assert that trust is crucial to collaborative teamwork. Visioning ability, they explain, is the capacity to instill a sense of purpose and direction toward a shared goal. Authors convincingly show that effective leadership has shifted away from traditional top-down models, emphasizing the need for teamwork and shared problem-solving instead. A central theme of the book is the significance of creating a shared vision through inclusive practices. By engaging diverse stakeholders—such as teachers, administrators, parents, and community members—in the visioning process, leaders can ensure that the goals reflect a wide range of perspectives. This inclusivity fosters a sense of ownership among team members and enhances the sustainability of the vision, making it more likely that everyone involved will be committed to achieving it. The authors highlight that a well-defined vision serves as a guiding light for teams, providing clarity and direction, which is especially crucial in the face of the challenges often encountered in education.

In addition, Martin and Rains emphasize the vital role of communication in effective collaborative leadership. Effective communication, authors stress, is the key to working with others and fostering a sense of connection and engagement. They explain that successful communication is built on clarity, appropriate timing, and empathy. These elements are crucial for building trust and respect within teams, as they help establish an open dialogue where all voices are heard and valued. The authors suggest practical strategies to enhance communication, such as encouraging face-to-face interactions and scheduling regular check-ins to maintain connections among team members. They also advocate for celebrating small accomplishments, which helps to create a sense of community and motivates continued effort. By positioning communication as a key element of collaboration, the authors illustrate how it can unlock the potential for transformative change in educational settings, ultimately leading to better outcomes for students.

Authors argue trust is earned in the workplace through consistent collaboration, commitment, integrity, and inspiring trust. As individuals demonstrate integrity and empathy towards others, they foster a team spirit that encourages diligent and enthusiastic work. This trusting relationship is not about being friends, but about treating each other professionally and respectfully. The authors also underline the importance of being available to collaborate with employees, being humble, and being willing to share leadership while acknowledging one's lack of knowledge.

As the trust among workers is being built, the next step is to determine how to build a team that will be productive, and whose members are collaborators and supportive of each other as they learn new skills and learn from others to create a common goal. As these individuals develop their skills, they can become candidates to be part of the management team, and they should be considered for new positions, thus building capacity for promotions and creating a supportive, knowledgeable organization. Furthermore, the authors discuss the different kinds of teams needed for the organization's functions, which can be vertical or horizontal structures. Each of these structures serves a different function, and both are needed to run an efficient organization, be it educational or a business organization. Regardless of whether the structure is vertical or horizontal, the most important part is communication and how each member should know who their colleagues are. As teammates learn about each other's skills, some will be noticed and promoted to different jobs and be given more responsibility, provided that this is what they want to do. However, one very important comment made by the authors is that people should all be represented within the organization.

Finally, there is the discussion about loose, tight leadership and the importance of knowing when one or the other is needed to avoid chaos. Especially in schools, leadership must know when flexibility (loose leadership) and non-negotiable elements (tight leadership) must be followed. In the case of student achievement, everyone is responsible, but when it comes to the bottom line, the classroom is where achievement occurs. Therefore, student achievement is non-negotiable, but how the teachers get students there is negotiable. All stakeholders are responsible for one thing or another; they all work together for a common goal, and it is this commitment to a common goal and the trust built among stakeholders that can bring success, therefore creating the coalition that we can be stronger together.

The writing in Stronger Together is engaging and accessible, making it easier for readers to understand complex concepts without feeling overwhelmed. Martin and Rains effectively use real-world examples and relevant quotes throughout the text, grounding their theoretical discussions in practical application. This method not only deepens the reader's understanding but also provides leaders with actionable strategies to apply in their own settings. For instance, the authors outline a framework for building diverse teams, emphasizing the importance of leveraging each member’s unique strengths to create a more effective collaborative environment. While the book covers a wide range of information, its overall success lies in its ability to inspire and empower educators and leaders. By promoting collaboration as a fundamental approach to leadership, Stronger Together encourages a transition toward more inclusive and dynamic educational practices, ultimately aiming to improve student outcomes. This focus on collaboration not only addresses contemporary educational needs but also cultivates a culture of continuous improvement, creating an environment where both educators and students can thrive.

The focus on cultivating collaboration and transparency addresses the challenges principals, vice principals, and department heads face in educational environments. These leaders often struggle to unify diverse stakeholders around shared goals while building trust among faculty. Practical strategies for vision development and team cohesion can help enhance culture and potentially boost student outcomes.  

Early-career leaders often need help to identify their leadership style while balancing the complexities of fostering a cooperative team culture. The book offers a systematic process for self-assessment and developing collaborative practices from the start. The insights for building trust and empathy will particularly aid new leaders in gaining credibility. Even veteran leaders with established methods can strengthen inclusive, transparent cultures through refinement. Stronger Together prompts reevaluation of approaches and willingness to adapt for improved results. The book empowers seasoned professionals to elevate impact through integrity, empathy, and humility within continually changing environments.
 
Coaches and school improvement teams tasked with elevating school culture and improving collaboration will find the strategies in this book particularly useful. The book’s frameworks for creating shared goals, promoting consistent communication, and building trust provide actionable tactics to implement across different levels of school leadership, from administrators to classroom teachers, positively impacting all involved. While the primary focus is educational leadership, its principles of collaborative leadership, trust-building, and transparent communication can be applied more broadly. Business, healthcare, and nonprofit leaders who aim to enhance team performance by fostering a supportive and transparent environment can adapt the book’s methods to suit their industries. The emphasis on empathy, integrity, and humility will resonate with diverse leaders wanting effective teams. 

Leaders who prefer hierarchical or highly directive styles may find the book’s emphasis on collaboration, transparency, and shared decision-making misaligned with their leadership philosophy. Stronger Together advocates shared decision-making and cooperation that priorities top-down management may disagree with. Though collaboration and trust-building apply widely, the content remains grounded in education. Leaders in other fields risk not finding examples that directly serve their work if they lack similar collaborative structures, challenging direct translation without industry context. 

The book also emphasizes sustainable change through cultural transformation, which requires patience, commitment, and time. This approach is misaligned with the needs of those pressured to achieve immediate, quantifiable results. 

Much of the guidance involves self-assessment, understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses, and adapting behaviors to suit a collaborative culture. Leaders not open to examining their leadership style or adjusting their approach may find the book of limited value, as it calls for introspection and flexibility in personal development. 

The strategies resonate most with team-based environments, where collaborative goals, shared visions, and transparent communication are integral. Leaders working in highly independent roles or with limited team interaction may not gain substantial insights from the book’s focus on fostering collaborative teams and a culture of open communication. 

[Carlos Alejandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stronger Together by Terri L. Martin and Cameron L. Rains offers a steady and grounded look at what meaningful collaboration can become in a school community. The authors move away from the idea that one heroic leader holds everything together. Instead, they describe how schools function best when people share responsibility, communicate clearly, and trust one another. The book opens with the reminder that “Collaboration is not an optional enhancement to leadership. It is the work of leadership” (Martin & Rains, 2021, p. 3). Our group returned to that idea many times because it reflects what many of us already know from our experiences. Collaboration shapes the daily life of a school and guides how people work together.
The book Stronger Together centers on collaborative leadership. It begins by highlighting how leaders are often expected to manage complex responsibilities alone, which can lead to burnout, poor decision making, and disconnection. The authors emphasize the need for school leaders to shift from isolation to a distributed leadership model in which teachers, teams, and administrators work together toward shared goals.
The book explains how effective collaboration relies on trust, shared purpose, vulnerability, and intentional structures. Martin and Rains stress that collaboration is a deep process grounded in shared norms, consistent communication, and systems that allow teams to thrive. Leaders must be willing to listen, reflect, and let go of control to enable authentic shared leadership to take root.
Martin and Rains (2021) provide practical tools such as communication protocols, feedback models, and structured meeting formats to help schools build collaborative cultures. They focus on the importance of relational trust and collective efficacy, explaining that students benefit when educators feel supported, empowered, and aligned. The authors argue that collaboration leads to stronger instruction, healthier school climates, and a resilient staff that can navigate challenges together. The book's overall message is that meaningful collaboration requires intentionality, courage, and a willingness to invest in people (Martin & Rains, 2021).
Our group responded to the book with recognition. One member wrote that “the first part of the book Stronger Together really goes over collaborative leadership and the theoretical factors behind it,” which helped set the foundation for our discussions. Another member shared that the book “pushed me to look at leadership through a different lens,” something many of us felt as we moved deeper into the chapters.
Trust was a recurring theme within the reading. A classmate explained that “to really work well with a collaborative group, there needs to be openness and trust,” which aligned with the authors’ message that “Trust is the foundation that determines whether collaboration thrives or collapses” (Martin & Rains, 2021, p. 27). Most of us could think of moments when trust made the work possible and moments when the absence of trust created unnecessary stress and miscommunication.
It also connected naturally to a section that one of our classmates wrote in her reflection. Martin and Rains (2021) center their ideas on the belief that schools thrive when stakeholders, administrators, teachers, students, families, and community partners work collaboratively toward shared goals. The authors emphasize that meaningful change in education does not occur through top-down mandates but through a culture of trust, open communication, and collective problem solving (Martin & Rains, 2021).
One of the book’s core themes is that strong relationships and teamwork form the foundation for effective school improvement. “Having a strong set of team norms helps members understand their commitments to one another, as well as how they will act when they are together” (Martin & Rains, 2021, p. 56). When people feel respected, heard, and valued, they become more willing to take risks, innovate, and support one another. Another central idea threaded throughout the book is the importance of distributed leadership.
Martin and Rains argue that leadership should not be confined to administrators alone. Teachers, students, and community members all possess perspectives and expertise that can guide decision-making. By empowering multiple voices and creating structures that enable stakeholders to participate in shaping school initiatives, schools become more adaptive, equitable, and resilient (Martin & Rains, 2021). This inclusive approach strengthens accountability because stakeholders feel personally invested in outcomes.
The authors ultimately frame collaboration not as a set of strategies but as a mindset that must be cultivated intentionally. “It does not take a special person to become a collaborative leader, but it does take integrity and empathy” (Martin & Rains, 2021, p. 86). They highlight practical examples of how schools can build collaborative teams, navigate conflict, reflect on practice, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Overall, Stronger Together emphasizes that collective leadership and shared purpose foster stronger relationships, healthier school climates, and more successful learning environments for all students.
We also discussed how the book addresses power with honesty. Martin and Rains (2021) write that “collaborative leadership distributes voice and dismantles the hierarchy that keeps participation uneven” (Martin & Rains, 2021, p. 41). This spoke to our experiences in schools where the people closest to students are not always included in the decisions that shape daily practice. Someone in our group joked that if schools ran on honest communication, half of us would sleep better at night. The book made it clear that a shared voice allows people to feel connected and respected.
We also spent time reflecting on the strength of guiding coalitions. The authors explain that “a guiding coalition strengthens the work by ensuring that leadership does not rest on the shoulders of one” (Martin & Rains, 2021, p. 52). Many of us work in places where leadership roles shift often, so the idea of a stable and consistent team felt reassuring and realistic.
The strategies the authors provided were easy to connect to real school practice. One group member wrote that “These tools are not meant to give them the answers but to guide them toward deeper thinking,” which connects to the authors’ point that “tools empower teams to solve problems together rather than waiting for solutions from above” (Martin & Rains, 2021, p. 62). It was also hard not to smile at the line “Time for collaboration must be created. It will never appear on its own” (Martin & Rains 2021, p. 71). Anyone who has ever tried to collaborate between bells knows exactly what that means.
Several reflections returned to the emotional impact of the work. Teaching can feel lonely even inside a crowded building. The authors address this feeling directly when they write that “educators deserve structures that allow them to succeed together rather than struggle alone” (Martin & Rains, 2021, p. 95). Many of us connected with that line because it reflects what we want for our own school communities. Real support and genuine partnership matter.
Reading Stronger Together with our group’s reflections helped us understand the book as both a guide and a mirror. Martin and Rains (2021) present a vision of leadership grounded in trust, communication, and the courage to share responsibility. The quotes and ideas we returned to throughout the book reflected our lived experiences as educators. The authors remind us that collaboration is not an extra task but a commitment that shapes the culture and daily life of a school. When adults work together with honesty, clarity, and consistency, the entire community benefits. The book’s message that “we become stronger together by becoming better together” (Martin & Rains, 2021, p. 112) captures the heart of the work. Students feel the difference when the adults in their school truly operate as a team.

[Kathleen Jahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our group review is for Stronger Together: Answering the Questions of Collaborative Leadership (Creating a Culture of Collaboration and Transparent Communication). The book was co-authored by Terri L. Martin and Cameron L. Rains. The book was an easy read and the reader can easily relate to the topics included. The book opened with a section titled Beginning Thoughts and ended with a section titled Ending Thoughts. Six different chapters were presented in the book. The titles of the chapters were divided into thought-provoking titles:
Chapter 1: What Kind of Leader Am I?
Chapter 2: How Can I Earn Trust?
Chapter 3: How Do I Build Teams?
Chapter 4: How Can I Help Develop a Vision?
Chapter 5: How Can I Support Teams?
Chapter 6: What, When, and How Should I Communicate?
At the end of each chapter, there was a section where the reader could indulge in knowing their skills through questionnaires and assessments. This made each chapter more meaningful and relatable to the reader. There were enlightened personal discoveries upon the completion of each questionnaire. The book falls under the genre of leadership as it provides a way to improve leadership skills and communication styles.
The book offered tools on how to navigate areas that can enhance leadership and communication skills. These themes revolved around self-awareness to improve one's emotional intelligence when dealing with others and leading different roles. The more the leader is self-aware, the more the leadership style will be aligned with their values and the vision and mission of the project. These factors are key components to leading sustainable, successful, and consistent projects/organizations.
This book is perhaps one of the most enjoyable, concise, easy, yet complex, books of the semester. As a part-time doctoral program for working adults, this book fits in as a short read full of long ideas, concepts, and real-world examples. The chapters are thematically organized and independent, making them easy to read out of order or as a refresher, and are a great reference resource going forward. The ideas and concepts presented are extremely abbreviated, and if there is one criticism, it would be that the author attempts to fill a handful of pages with something that can be a book, if not more. However, the prose in which it is written flows evenly and does not attempt to delve too deep into any one area, but instead gives the reader enough information to know where to go to get more details.
The chapter titles are questions, cementing its use as a reference guide on the fly. Each chapter is approximately 10 or more pages, and some include reproducible supplemental material for course instruction. The book is thin, with a half-inch thick perfect bound spine, and is smaller than a sheet of copy paper, making it easy to handle and travel. The text reads well on the matt-finished pages, yet there is ample negative space between the lines and large margins for notes. In short, the composition and physical construction of the book greatly lends itself to an easy read and a quick reference source for the material therein.
Overall, this team has a positive outlook on this book. We believe the material is applicable across any discipline or profession, despite the specificity of examples within. The ideas are universal and flexible enough to fit well in a variety of real-world collaborations without shoehorning, adapting material to different environments, and viewed through a variety of lenses, both practical and fluid. The authors believe, “more often than not, people with like strengths are better able to communicate with one another. However, a team of individuals who each address a task the same way is not always the most productive” (Martin & Rains, 2018, p. 31). In other words, the book is a proponent of diversity in collaboration within a multidisciplinary context.
The structure of the book is sound, easy to follow, and presents information in a logical, linear fashion, aiding the reader’s ability to comprehend a lot of information in an otherwise short work. Although the ideas and concepts discussed therein are complex, the authors present the material in basic terms, breaking the topics down into subheadings of key parts, citing sources, and providing examples to substantiate their discussion. Transitions are an easy adjustment. Each section can be independent of the others within a chapter yet complement each other well within the chapter. The subheadings are key elements to the topic being discussed, and simply following what the subheadings say would be plenty to get the reader well on their way to practice the material in real-world applications.
The text that follows the headings only adds to the mystique of the headings themselves, drawing the reader in for what one would believe to be the magic formula for success, yearning for more. The authors present in the confident, yet humble voice of great collaborative leadership, inviting the participation of others at the outset with the chapter titles posed as questions instead of statements. This also showcases the flexibility and inclusivity of 21st-century leadership, where the tone and tenor of a leader is multifaceted and multidirectional, and the days of a singular leadership model have all but faded to the halls of history because “collaborative leaders know and communicate both where there is flexibility (showing loose leadership) and elements that are non-negotiable (showing tight leadership)” (Martin & Rains, 2018, p. 32).
In the forward of this book, Robert Marzano sets the stage for its use and the intended effectiveness that can be reached by using it. Although it is geared towards an educator's mindset, the chapters and the questions within will allow for flexibility and application to other professions. The steps to becoming a collaborative leader are clearly communicated in a recipe for success. Each chapter will lead the reader through self-assessment questions that will culminate in research-based steps for leading a group, a team or an organization to its ultimate potential. While some of the questions within the chapters facilitate deep introspection into one’s leadership strengths, others are more directive, naming specific moves to create leaders who are empowered to exceed expectations with their teams. The most successful leadership involves knowing oneself and recognizing the potential in others as well as capitalizing on the relationships to maximize the team. This book will be a worthy roadmap to that destination.

Kathleen Jahn, Terence Johnson, Iman Saymeh
References
Martin, T. L., & Rains, C. L. (2018). Stronger together: answering the questions of collaborative leadership. Solution Tree Press.

[Johnathan Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be on the shelf of every principal, assistant principal, and or central office personnel. It services as a guide and compass in the realm of leadership, specifically those who desire to be transparent, transformational, and collaborative. The take aways at the end of each chapter really give the reader an opportunity to truly reflect, process, and analyze the content. The authors have instant credibility, because they are school leaders. They have walked the walk, so they can talk the talk (so to speak). They provide clear action steps (and even consumables) for current and future leaders to download and or copy for professional development.

The chapter titles and content really help the leader think critically about how they fit into the leadership framework within their school, as well as evaluate their abilities, or in some cases inabilities. The questions the chapters pose are ones that every leader will ask of their constituents and stakeholders. It is a very straight forward approach to leadership. The six very broad questions, that incapsulate the chapter titles support educational leadership theory and best practices, but communicate them in practical and simple terms. This is a very short read, but is filled with so much knowledge and approaches to leadership, that it simply must be in the mailbox of every principal!

[Lindsay Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world of education is known for the plethora of professional development books available, rivaled only by the number of leadership texts. Combine both subjects, and it seems the recipe for the definitions of boring, useless, and uninspiring. However, in Terri L. Martin’s and Cameron L. Rains’ book, Stronger Together: Answering the Questions of Collaborative Leadership, there is a pleasant surprise awaiting anyone looking to dive into practical knowledge and applications of collaborative leadership. Giving this four out of five stars for its sense of self-awareness and practicality, Martin and Rains do a wonderful job highlighting the needs of collaborative leaders while understanding that most people picking up this text are not completely new to the concept of leadership.

Martin and Rains evaluate the basics of collaborative leadership, building on concepts throughout the text from start to finish. In addition to providing strong information and documentation for the need for collaborative leadership, they also have workbooks and reproducibles at the end of each chapter. The primary focus of these are self-awareness and consistent reflection, two things the authors repeat is necessary for successful collaborative leadership. While some earlier in the text feel a bit outdated and otherwise repetitive, exercises and graphic organizers provided in the later chapters provide thoughtful and honest reflection in group settings: not just the individual setting.

One benefit of the book itself was that it was an easy read, especially as far as texts designed or used in professional development go. The understanding of the prior knowledge many come in with, combined with the understanding that reading a 400-page text is unrealistic for most working professionals, makes this book a great option for anyone looking to expand their concepts of leadership, specifically within the realm of collaborative leadership. Those in a role where they are hoping to hone in on that set of skills may very well find that the activities provided give them some inspiration and insight into being more effective. Those who work well with reflection or want to grow there may also find some insights from the text and its supplemental activities.

Overall, the book was great. The authors (Martin & Rains) draw into their extensive experience with developments within organizations, actionable steps/insights, and encouragement of innovation through collaboration. All six chapters highlight the what, how, and when of leadership, trust, team building, vision development, team support, and effective communication. Each ending to a chapter comes with actionable worksheets and deliverables to work on as an individual leader or as an organization as a whole.

The implementation of real-world examples, practical tools, and research makes this a great read for those interested in true transformational change and enhancement in organizational culture. What stuck out to me were what I perceived to be the strengths and critiques of this book.

Strengths:
- True focus on transparency
- Dedicated frameworks and tools in each chapter
- Engagement through real-world examples
- Straightforward reader accessibility

Critiques:
- Chapters began to get a little redundant in similar topics
- Lacks depth in certain topics, such as power dynamics and combative organizations
- Diverse perspectives limited the ability to see beyond Western organizational contexts.
- There was too much optimism in the book which takes away from the true nature of realistic situations that occur

This book would be beneficial for:
- Change agents in their own spaces
- Emerging leadership roles
- Leaders in smaller/mid-size organizations that can realistically make an impact
- Team leaders, managers, and supervisors
- School administrators and educators

Would NOT be beneficial for:
- Organizations that prioritize individual performances
- People with heavy research emphasis
- Seasoned/veteran leaders who are already change agents
- Leaders in large organizations due to the amount of other existing challenges in these structures
- People in high-conflict/high-stress organizations

[Sarah Pevner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book:
Martin & Rains (2018) Stronger Together: Answering the Questions of Collaborative Leadership

Group Members:
Bobbi Brice
Michelle Edwards
Sarah Pevner
Sarah Jane Schonour

Title and Authors: Martin & Rains (2018) Stronger Together: Answering the Questions of Collaborative Leadership

Introduction - Michelle Edwards

The book Stronger Together is a practical roadmap to what collaboration as an effective leader can resemble.Though the reading is intended for those in education, the premise can be utilized in various settings. The authors explain what skills are necessary to help guide the vision of an organization while promoting voice and shared beliefs in ways where authentic collaboration of stakeholders are valued.

Summary - Sarah Pevner

Stronger Together harnesses collective lessons learned from a lifetime of leadership experience in order to guide readers through the biggest themes and challenges of truly collaborative leadership performance. Designed to be reflective and user-friendly, this book encourages readers to consider their work as a leader, their leadership style, and the ways in which they can build strategies and structures that truly foster collaborative environments.

Critique - All Group Members

The true impact of Stronger Together is in its combination of easy format and deep thinking. None of the chapters are long or intensive, but all of them offer reflective practices that challenge leaders to dig deeper into their own toolkit to consider and solve the major issues that arise when designing environments that support collaborative leadership. (Sarah Pevner)

The authors of this book (Martin & Rains) understand that collaborative leadership is based on relationships. They also recognize that when administrators, teachers, and school staff work together, the ultimate beneficiaries are the students. Working as a team takes time and effort - with the plans laid out in Stronger Together the journey toward creating collaborative teams is an achievable goal. (Sarah Jane Schonour)

Each chapter of this book is focused around an achievable goal, and each goal comes with a series of strategies, protocols and worksheets that would support the planning and implementation. This is useful in itself and is supported by the consistent format in each chapter: short, straightforward and user-friendly, with reflective questions and action items. The value of this work is that it encourages practitioners to navigate lofty goals with easily implemented strategies that have been tested in workplaces. There are so many books written to help support collaborative team development, but few of them are as easy to access and ready-made for implementation as this one. (Sarah Pevner)

Martin & Rains guide to collaborative leadership is a digestible read with many usable and practical strategies to aid in creating a leadership model and environment that is more collaborative, trusting and relational. The self reflective questions at the end of each chapter is beneficial in forging the path forward as leaders who value relationships, voice, collaboration and growth. The authors acknowledge the hiccups that may occur along the way but furnishes the reader a solution based approach. The worksheets sprinkled throughout the book is a heuristic way of learning and growing. (Michelle Edwards)

Recommendation - Sarah Jane Schonour

Overall, our group would highly recommend this book. The writing is clear and easy to follow. The authors provide many activities to use with a school team to strengthen their work together. There is a companion website with printable versions of the activities included. This book is a practical guide for building collaboration and enhancing communication.

[Janice Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a book that actually delivers on the “collaboration”, Martin & Rains’ Stronger Together (2018) is a breath of fresh air. I picked it up expecting the usual platitudes about teamwork, but what can be found is a hands-on guide to building real unity, whether you’re running a school, leading a business, or just trying to get people to work together without losing your mind.

The early chapters lay the groundwork, with “The Power of Unity” making a compelling case that true collaboration isn’t about everyone thinking the same way. Instead, it’s about harnessing different strengths and perspectives to tackle problems that would bury any one person or group. The authors use vivid stories like a scrappy neighborhood revitalization project and a merger between two wildly different companies to show how unity, done right, can actually move mountains.

What stood out most is how practical the book gets. Chapters on building foundations and supporting teams offer more than just theory. Martin & Rains break down the nuts and bolts: trust, communication, shared values, and the all-important act of celebrating wins together. There are checklists, strategies, and examples you can steal for your own team tomorrow.

Chapter Four is a standout for anyone struggling to get a team moving in the same direction. The authors do a deep dive into what it really takes to create a shared vision and common goals that stick. They argue that a leader’s first job is to separate fact from assumption which is no easy feat, but absolutely essential if you want buy-in from everyone. Martin & Rains emphasize that a vision only works when it reflects the input and needs of all stakeholders, not just the loudest voices at the table.

They are big on using SMART goals, and this is not just as corporate jargon, but as practical tools for tracking progress and boosting both collaboration and commitment. Chapter 5 is packed with essential questions that push you to apply these ideas to your own team, plus activities that encourage leaders to reflect honestly on their own habits and how they support their people. The chapter wraps up with a four-step reflection process that helps leaders focus on the positives, celebrate progress, and keep that shared sense of purpose front and center.

The main takeaway? Collaborative leaders are significantly more effective when there’s a clear, shared vision at the core, something the whole team can rally around and feel committed to.
But the real gold is in the later chapters. Chapter Five is basically a playbook for leaders who actually want to empower teams, not just supervise them. It dives into creating shared vocabulary, protecting collaboration time, and building tools (like agendas and norms) with the team, not for them. There’s an honest discussion about the need for ongoing support and real accountability—without micromanaging people or killing their motivation.

Chapter Six takes a hard look at communication. The message? It’s not enough to pass information along. If you want a healthy culture, you must listen, include everyone, and make people feel seen and heard. The authors provide actionable tips for various aspects, from staff meetings to parent engagement, along with sample plans and rituals that can be adapted.

What makes Stronger Together stand out is how it combines inspiration with hands-on guidance. You walk away believing that better teamwork is possible and knowing exactly where to start. If you’re a school leader, business manager, or just someone who wants to see people work well together, this book is well worth your time. It’s practical, positive, and most importantly, rooted in the real world.

[Shelby Robinson]

Have you ever used a finger trap prank? The finger trap is a cylinder of bamboo woven together, and when you put a finger in either end of the trap you are stuck. The wearers will pull as hard as they can at either end, and they just cannot seem to get free. It takes a few tries before they realize that they need to work together to push inward to release their hands and solve the problem. Stronger Together: Answering the Questions of Collaborative Leadership by Terri Martin and Cameron Rains captures this sense throughout their book. You may be stuck without collaboration from the parties involved, and although it can be difficult to take a moment to think and put aside your own beliefs of what you can do alone or what you should do alone, it is incredibly worth it. Instead of looking at situations as win-lose, if people try to solve a problem with a win-win mentality, success is sure to prevail. It struck us as a group, the ability of Martin and Rains to highlight the differences between individualism and collectivism when operating as a group. It can be easier to focus on yourself as an individual, but does it truly allow you to accomplish a collective goal? These are the tough parts of leadership that Martin and Rains do not shy away from addressing, and they offer excellent strategies to adjust paradigms to reset one’s perspective and get better results.

Stronger Together explores in depth the hard work it takes to be a successful leader while reminding us time and time again that being a leader will be hard, but can also be a lot of fun. Each chapter wraps up with activities that address certain skills.. These activities range from inward-focused activities that can be done alone as you try to understand your path as a leader or large group activities to do for introductions or to just engage your staff in a meeting. Each activity is a reminder that being a leader and working on what it means for you to be a leader can be very intentionally and deliberately done. It pushed us to examine our own little things that we do to motivate, build up, and support our team which we think to be the ultimate goal of this book. It is a wonderful, easy read that serves as a foundation to be good leaders for our teams and then pushes us to be better and more creative in our approaches, eventually leading us to have an arsenal of tricks to pass along and develop leaders within the team.

It must be said though that team-building activities are not for everyone. Martin and Rains utilize these exercises as a backbone to each section to provide another method of learning and understanding for the reader. It could make the reader feel as if it is over-simplifying the needs of their team because it is fair to say that not all teams can be fixed through these exercises. It is important though to recognize that all work takes time, and nowhere is it stated that the text will be a cure to a poor work culture; this would likely require a more serious intervention. However, Stronger Together does give a step-by-step method on how to see growth. This would be an excellent book to have on any team but especially those within education! It would make a perfect summer reading book choice for educators, emerging leaders, administrators, or other people looking to hone their leadership skills through collaboration.

Group Members:
Patricia Burton-Mcfadden
Charlotte Foster
Shelby Robinson
Holly Simpson

[Robin Brice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Stronger Together is a practical roadmap to what collaboration as an effective leader can resemble.Though the reading is intended for those in education, the premise can be utilized in various settings. The authors explain what skills are necessary to help guide the vision of an organization while promoting voice and shared beliefs in ways where authentic collaboration of stakeholders are valued.
Stronger Together harnesses collective lessons learned from a lifetime of leadership experience in order to guide readers through the biggest themes and challenges of truly collaborative leadership performance. Designed to be reflective and user-friendly, this book encourages readers to consider their work as a leader, their leadership style, and the ways in which they can build strategies and structures that truly foster collaborative environments.
The true impact of Stronger Together is in its combination of easy format and deep thinking. None of the chapters are long or intensive, but all of them offer reflective practices that challenge leaders to dig deeper into their own toolkit to consider and solve the major issues that arise when designing environments that support collaborative leadership.
Martin & Rains (2018) understand that collaborative leadership is based on relationships. They also recognize that when administrators, teachers, and school staff work together, the ultimate beneficiaries are the students. Working as a team takes time and effort - with the plans laid out in Stronger Together the journey toward creating collaborative teams is an achievable goal.
Each chapter of this book is focused around an achievable goal, and each goal comes with a series of strategies, protocols and worksheets that would support the planning and implementation. This is useful in itself and is supported by the consistent format in each chapter: short, straightforward and user-friendly, with reflective questions and action items. The value of this work is that it encourages practitioners to navigate lofty goals with easily implemented strategies that have been tested in workplaces. There are so many books written to help support collaborative team development, but few of them are as easy to access and ready-made for implementation as this one.
Martin & Rains (2018) guide to collaborative leadership is a digestible read with many usable and practical strategies to aid in creating a leadership model and environment that is more collaborative, trusting and relational. The self reflective questions at the end of each chapter is beneficial in forging the path forward as leaders who value relationships, voice, collaboration and growth. The authors acknowledge the hiccups that may occur along the way but furnishes the reader a solution based approach. The worksheets sprinkled throughout the book is a heuristic way of learning and growing.
Overall, our group would highly recommend this book. The writing is clear and easy to follow. The authors provide many activities to use with a school team to strengthen their work together. There is a companion website with printable versions of the activities included. This book is a practical guide for building collaboration and enhancing communication.

Review is collaboratively written by:
Bobbi Brice
Michelle Edwards
Sarah Pevner
Sarah Jane Schonour

[Sharon Hoetzlein-Sirman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stronger Together: Answering the Questions of Collaborative Leadership
Authors: Terri L. Martin and Cameron L. Rains

Aspiring leaders in every aspect of education should read this book. From the relevant scenarios to the meaningful suggestions, this book supports team building and collective growth—a solid five stars based on its compelling ideas, thoughtful exercises, and dynamic suggestions. Stronger Together makes the case for collaborative leadership in a concise and applicable manner.

The book begins with a description of collaborative leadership, the consumers and benefactors, an overview of concepts, as well as aspirations associated with the author's ideas. Throughout each subsequent chapter, readers are encouraged to reflect on their strengths, weaknesses, hopes, and dreams through the lens of topics relevant to collaborative leadership. From reflecting on an overview of one's leadership style to examining trust, teamwork, vision, and communication, the author highlights what it takes to develop a relationship that maximizes members' potential.

While the book is infused with a broad spectrum of evidence, many examples correlate with school-related circumstances. In and of itself, this is not a failure or criticism but rather an acknowledgment that the discussions are most transferable to educational leadership. Having said that, the concise and accessible nature of each chapter lends itself well to a book club for teachers and administrators. In a field where many of the best are self-professed perfectionists, the introductory chapter lays the foundation for true reflection and deep understanding. "Everyone has weaknesses. How you handle them makes the difference (Martin and Rains, 2018, p. 11)."

Even though the chapters are succinct, they provide ample opportunities for reflection and application. In every instance, chapters are embedded with charts and tables that challenge readers to consider their situation and the next steps for improvement. Additionally, each chapter ends with various reproducible activities to replicate the lessons with teams, colleagues, or partners. Courtesy of these opportunities to debrief and duplicate, Stronger Together should be on the shelf of every administrator and teacher. The ideas regarding collaborative leadership transcend the front office, the department, and the staff. Lessons from this book also apply to any classroom seeking to prepare students for the skills necessary to succeed in the next century and beyond.

Sharon Hoetzlein-Sirman and Jessica Leinbaugh

[Loydis C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book, Stronger Together: Answering the Question of Collaborative Leadership, by Terri Martin and Cameron Rains, is a self-help resource for becoming a more collaborative leader in the K-12 system. The book is primarily a resource written by educators for educators that can be used to learn and develop the skills necessary for collaboration. Although the book focuses on educational scenarios, the ideas and tools presented can be utilized in additional organizations.

Stronger Together is composed of six chapters titled with a collaborative leadership question, with the contents of each chapter exploring the question. The book begins with a description of collaborative leadership and a summary of the concepts. The following chapters dive into the importance of leaders knowing themselves first, both strengths and weaknesses, emphasizing the need to earn and build trust, the steps to build a team, the development of a vision, the ways to support a team, and best practices for communication within and outside of your team. Each chapter has guiding questions to assist with self-reflection and collection of thoughts. Additionally, within each chapter are user-friendly reproducible worksheets to support and encourage planning and implementation of the presented concepts. Overall, the chapters are short and straightforward allowing the quick digestion of the information.

Martins and Rain produced an easily understandable resource to collaborative leaders. Their focus on collaborative leadership based on the development of relationships allows the concepts of this book to go far beyond the field of education. However, there were some areas that were not addressed in depth such as strategies for opposing views and identifying weaknesses. Generally, this book’s position was firmly established in all the positive aspects associated with engaging in collaborative leadership, which at times left some unanswered questions with the material.

Despite the points of weakness identified, our group overall agrees that this book is an excellent resource for leaders. The chapters are well-structured, short, and easy-to-read. The worksheets and activities provided can be adapted with ease and can be utilized in many organizations. Martin and Rain did an excellent job with this practical and engaging guide to collaboration.


Group Members:
Loydis Cummings
Carla Deltreste
Charles Woollum
Petrina Miller

[Jennifer Shanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No one can lead alone” (Martin & Rains, p. 1). From the beginning to the end, this workbook reinforces the idea that the team is stronger than the individual members. Martin & Rain speak from experience gained through their careers as educators, for educators.

The chapters are arranged to walk the reader through a process to become a collaborative leader, with the reader’s self-reflection on their own leadership skills as a starting point. Recurring themes, such and trust and communication are applied to concepts related to building a team and becoming a better leader. The authors go beyond explaining their philosophies by providing activity templates that the reader can use or modify to meet the needs of the group or project at hand.

Those wishing to build the capacity for collaboration within themselves and their teams will find this book filled with ideas that will challenge them to think deeply. While the examples provided occur in an educational setting, the advice provided is universal, and could easily be modified to benefit those in many other professions.

Stronger Together focuses on collaboration as key, and does so by thoroughly providing exercises and thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter. The book allows time for readers to stop and think about their current work environment, and challenge the collaboration that is currently happening within the organization. Leaders from every school should have the opportunity to read this book and bring the practices into their own world. A favorite quote from chapter 1, “There is a difference between knowing yourself and knowing what kind of leader you are”, has influenced a great deal of reflection as we read through this book.

From self-assessments to step by step action-pack resources for supporting collaborative teams that include creating a shared vision; effectively engaging in consensus; tools to drive momentum; monitoring and assessment and celebrating a schools achievement of short and long term goals, Martin and Rains takes the reader on a magic carpet ride that can be a blueprint for success if authentically embraced. Oftentimes, authors discuss theories and give great scenarios for readers to envision the action, but lack in step by step instructions to successfully engage in the action. Definitely, a book written by educators for educators.

[JAB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stronger Together, by Terri L. Martin and Cameron L. Rains, takes leaders on a logical and practical journey to becoming a collaborative leader. Throughout the book, the authors ask the readers to consider a series of questions about their own leadership skills and style. In these answers, the reader discovers the collaborative leadership skills necessary to build trust and support their teams, how to develop a vision and create a communication plan. This book provides practical suggestions to answer those questions and determine action steps for improvement.

Although Stronger Together does not provide in-depth research or leadership theories, it does deliver new and experienced leaders alike with the building blocks to not only reflect upon and improve their leadership but also to build collaborative leadership capacity in others. The language used in the book makes it accessible to a wide audience and the structure and flow make it easy to work through. Each chapter is straightforward and includes useful action steps and helpful “reproducibles” (self and team activities to reflect and build the pillars of collaborative leadership) which can be easily and readily implemented in any organization and at any level. To maximize the value of the book, readers must be willing to put in the time to thoughtfully consider the questions posed and work through the reproducibles provided.

[hanan halabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and informative, Stronger Together by Terri L. Martin and Cameron L. Rains is an amazing resource for anyone who wants to be an effective collaborative leader. This book provides strategies from experts in the field of collaborative and educational leadership. Stronger Together is a “playbook” for collaborative leaders, more specifically providing resources for K-12 educators. This book challenges collaborative leaders to ask themselves six important questions to find out what kind of leader they are and to assess how to improve their leadership through trust, team-building, and communication.

Stronger Together provides useful and easily readable scholarly text supported by reproducibles for practical application. Educational leaders can utilize this book for professional learning opportunities or on a daily basis to build the capacity of a team . Stronger Together is designed for leaders and teams in K-12 schools; however, the additional resources make it valuable at other educational levels. This is indeed a Good Read.

Marymount University- Book Club 3:
Samantha Davis, Hanan Halabi, Franklin Parmar, Maria Ramadane Lewis.

[Petrina Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stronger Together is an excellent guide and introduction to collaborative leadership. It asks the hard questions: What kind of leader am I? How can I earn trust? How do I build teams? How can I help develop a vision? How can I support teams? and finally, What, when, and how should I communicate? Each of these leadership questions are answered in a no nonsense style, with encouragement and direction for improving your personal leadership style. Each chapter in the book is devoted to answering one of these questions and each chapter ends with a guide to an action step that can be implemented immediately by the reader to help strengthen their collaborative leadership skills.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solution Tree doin what they do best-- small easily digestible and user friendly steps you can take in your leadership journey. Good stuff!

[Ely Family · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to leadership with a servant leadership focused to help deliver results.