{"id":2009,"date":"2026-07-25T15:39:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T15:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geteiltefuehrung.com\/?p=2009"},"modified":"2026-07-25T15:39:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T15:39:38","slug":"shared-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geteiltefuehrung.com\/en\/shared-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"Shared Leadership: Definition, Models &#038; Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"gf-eyebrow wp-block-paragraph\">Guide \u00b7 Basics<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gf-updated-en wp-block-paragraph\">Updated: 24 July 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gf-lead wp-block-paragraph\">Shared Leadership is the umbrella term for shared leadership responsibility \u2013 several people share one leadership role. Here you&#8217;ll find the definition, distinctions from related terms and the common models, with everyday examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group gf-toc is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li><a href=\"\/#was\">What is it?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/#herkunft\">Origin<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/#abgrenzung\">Distinctions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/#formen\">The forms<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/#alltag\">In daily life<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/#passt\">When it fits<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/#faq\">FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"was\">What is shared leadership?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group gf-answer is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"gf-answer__label\">Definition<\/span>Shared leadership is a leadership model in which several people deliberately share a leadership role and its responsibility. Decisions, tasks and visibility are divided by clear rules \u2013 rather than bundled with a single leader.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key point: this isn&#8217;t about one person&#8217;s inclusive leadership style, but about leadership being structurally distributed across several people. That distinction is what makes the term fuzzy \u2013 so let&#8217;s look at it closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gf-note wp-block-paragraph\">PLACEHOLDER: embed video \u201eShared leadership in 3 minutes\u201c (YouTube).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"herkunft\">Where the term comes from<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201eShared leadership\u201c comes from English-language leadership research and describes leadership as something a team exercises together, rather than a trait of a single person. In practice, it has come to describe concrete constellations \u2013 two people at the top, a shared position, a leadership tandem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"abgrenzung\">Distinctions: what&#8217;s what?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most common confusion is between a leadership model (several share the role) and a cooperative leadership style (one person leads inclusively). This table sorts the terms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table gf-cmp\"><table><thead><tr><th>Term<\/th><th>What it means<\/th><th>Who leads<\/th><th>Typical context<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Shared leadership<\/td><td>Umbrella: leadership is shared<\/td><td>Several people<\/td><td>Model, principle<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Distributed leadership<\/td><td>Leadership spread across many<\/td><td>Shifting, situational<\/td><td>Networks, agile teams<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Collaborative \/ participative<\/td><td>A leadership style of one person<\/td><td>One person, inclusive<\/td><td>Leadership style<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Shared management<\/td><td>Shared management responsibility<\/td><td>Several people<\/td><td>Often used synonymously<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shared leadership clearly differs from a mere leadership style.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"formen\">The forms at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li><strong>Dual leadership:<\/strong> two full roles at the top. <a href=\"\/en\/ratgeber\/doppelspitze\/\">More<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Leadership tandem:<\/strong> two people in one shared role. <a href=\"\/en\/coaching-fuehrungstandem\/\">More<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Top-\/job-sharing:<\/strong> one leadership position shared part-time. <a href=\"\/en\/ratgeber\/job-sharing-fuehrung\/\">More<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Co-CEO:<\/strong> two people at the company top. <a href=\"\/en\/ratgeber\/co-leadership\/\">More<\/a><\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which model fits which situation is covered in the <a href=\"\/en\/ratgeber\/tandem-modelle\/\">model comparison<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"alltag\">How this looks in daily life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Monday morning: a decision can&#8217;t wait, but only one of the two leaders is in the building. When shared leadership works, it&#8217;s clear beforehand who may decide alone in such cases and what is decided together. When it doesn&#8217;t, the decision is postponed \u2013 or made twice. The difference is never the two people&#8217;s chemistry, but the structure behind it: handovers, information flow, clear decision rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"passt\">When shared leadership doesn&#8217;t fit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"gf-cons wp-block-list\">\n\n<li>When there&#8217;s no real trigger and shared leadership is just a fashion.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>When management isn&#8217;t truly behind it.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>When the two people aren&#8217;t willing to clarify roles and decision rules openly.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>When no one in the organisation is allowed to touch the structures shared leadership needs.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group gf-faq is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details gf-faq__item is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What is shared leadership simply put?<\/summary>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several people share one leadership role by clear rules \u2013 instead of one person leading alone.<\/p>\n\n<\/details>\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details gf-faq__item is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What&#8217;s the difference from co-leadership?<\/summary>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Co-leadership usually means the concrete constellation of two named people in one role. Shared leadership is the broader umbrella term.<\/p>\n\n<\/details>\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details gf-faq__item is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Does it work in small companies?<\/summary>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes \u2013 often more easily, because decision paths are short. The requirement stays: clear roles and decision rules.<\/p>\n\n<\/details>\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details gf-faq__item is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Who decides in the end?<\/summary>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This must be defined beforehand: what&#8217;s decided alone, together, where you escalate. Without that rule, the model tips at the first conflict.<\/p>\n\n<\/details>\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details gf-faq__item is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Isn&#8217;t it twice as expensive?<\/summary>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not necessarily. Often shares are split rather than doubled \u2013 and the benefit (cover, better decisions, talent retention) stands against it.<\/p>\n\n<\/details>\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details gf-faq__item is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>How do you start?<\/summary>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With an honest check of the conditions. The <a href=\"\/en\/ratgeber\/shared-leadership-einfuehren\/\">roadmap<\/a> shows the steps.<\/p>\n\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What is shared leadership simply put?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Several people share one leadership role by clear rules \u2013 instead of one person leading alone.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What's the difference from co-leadership?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Co-leadership usually means the concrete constellation of two named people in one role. Shared leadership is the broader umbrella term.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Does it work in small companies?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes \u2013 often more easily, because decision paths are short. The requirement stays: clear roles and decision rules.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Who decides in the end?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"This must be defined beforehand: what's decided alone, together, where you escalate. Without that rule, the model tips at the first conflict.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Isn't it twice as expensive?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Not necessarily. Often shares are split rather than doubled \u2013 and the benefit (cover, better decisions, talent retention) stands against it.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How do you start?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"With an honest check of the conditions. The roadmap shows the steps.\"}}]}<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to introduce shared leadership in your company, the <a href=\"\/en\/co-leadership-beratung\/\">consulting for organisations<\/a> helps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group gf-author is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/geteiltefuehrung.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/amrit-rescheneder.jpg\" alt=\"Amrit Rescheneder\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n<p class=\"gf-author__role wp-block-paragraph\">Expert in co-leadership<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Amrit Rescheneder<\/h4>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amrit Rescheneder helps organisations and leadership tandems build shared leadership that works. She led in a job-sharing model herself for years \u2013 after 15 years of leadership responsibility in banking. She knows shared leadership from practice, not from textbooks.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Guide \u00b7 Basics Updated: 24 July 2026 Shared Leadership is the umbrella term for shared leadership responsibility \u2013 several people [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ratgeber"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/geteiltefuehrung.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/geteiltefuehrung.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/geteiltefuehrung.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geteiltefuehrung.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geteiltefuehrung.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2009"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/geteiltefuehrung.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2009\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/geteiltefuehrung.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geteiltefuehrung.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geteiltefuehrung.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}