Guide · Models
In briefShared leadership has several models: the dual leadership (two full roles at the top), the leadership tandem (two people in one role), top-sharing (leadership in part-time), rotating leadership in a team, and hybrid forms. Which fits depends on task, level and goals.
Contents
The five common models
Shared leadership is not a single model but a spectrum. Five forms appear most often in practice:
Comparison at a glance
| Model | Who | Typical level | Fits when … |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual leadership | 2 people, 2 full roles | management, board | the task is too big for one person |
| Leadership tandem | 2 people, 1 role | middle management | a position is to be shared |
| Top-sharing | 2 people part-time | all levels | leadership in part-time is wanted |
| Rotating leadership | team, changing | agile teams | leadership is distributed situationally |
| Hybrid | mixed form | project-dependent | standard models don’t fit |
Which model fits?
The choice hinges on three questions: how divisible is the task? What level are you at? And how much responsibility is really to be shared? A dual leadership at board level places different demands than top-sharing at team-lead level.
Aus meiner Praxis
A common mistake is choosing the model by the people’s wishes rather than the task. The task decides whether responsibility can be sensibly shared – not the calendar.
For the very top, the deeper look at dual leadership is worthwhile; for operational duo practice, the article on the leadership tandem.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between dual leadership and a tandem?
In a dual leadership each has a full role; in a tandem two people share one role.
Can you combine models?
Yes, hybrid forms are common – e.g. a tandem with rotating additional responsibilities.
Sources & further reading
- Pearce, C. L. & Conger, J. A. (2003): Shared Leadership. Reframing the Hows and Whys of Leadership. Sage.
- Carson, J. B., Tesluk, P. E. & Marrone, J. A. (2007): Shared Leadership in Teams. Academy of Management Journal, 50(5), 1217–1234.
- Wang, D., Waldman, D. A. & Zhang, Z. (2014): A meta-analysis of shared leadership and team effectiveness. Journal of Applied Psychology, 99(2), 181–198.
How this article was written
This article is based on my own experience as a leader in a job-sharing model and 15 years of leading in banking, as well as the established research on shared leadership (see sources). Where I speak from practice, it is marked as such.
Amrit Rescheneder
Amrit Rescheneder helps organisations and leadership tandems build shared leadership that works. She led in a job-sharing model herself for years – after 15 years of leadership responsibility in banking. She knows shared leadership from practice, not from textbooks.
Updated: 25 July 2026