AN INTEGRATED TRAINING MODEL FOR COOPERATIVE LEADERSHIP: ARTICULATION BETWEEN THE HUMAN DIMENSION, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAMS IN AGRO-COOPERATIVISM

Abstract

This article presents the proposition and analysis of an integrated formative model of cooperative leadership, built from the articulation between the human dimension of leadership, management practices in the cooperative context, and the processes of forming high-performance teams in agribusiness. The study starts from the recognition that traditional models of leader training, strongly anchored in instrumental and technocratic approaches, prove insufficient to respond to the contemporary demands faced by cooperatives, especially those inserted in the agro and family farming context, marked by community relations, democratic governance, decisional complexity, and pressure for sustainable economic results.

From a methodological point of view, this is a qualitative research, of a theoretical-applied nature, developed from critical analysis and conceptual integration of classic and contemporary references on leadership, people management, organizational behavior, and cooperativism, articulated with the experience of designing and implementing a curricular unit aimed at training cooperative leaders. The proposed model is structured in three complementary formative axes: (i) human and identity foundations of leadership; (ii) cooperative management practices in daily organizational life; and (iii) development of high-performance teams and change management in the context of cooperative agribusiness.

The results indicate that the integration between human development, management skills, and team development practices favors the formation of leaders more consistent with cooperative principles, capable of articulating organizational performance, democratic governance, and economic and social sustainability. It is concluded that the proposed training model offers a relevant contribution both to academic training programs and to leadership development initiatives in cooperatives, by aligning organizational results with the ethical, relational, and strategic training of leaders.