The way you lead is outdated.
Co-Leadership is the future.
The Wait is over!
Known from
Leadership.
Rewritten.
Co-Leadership: Jobsharing as a Response to a Changing World of Work challenges one of the most deeply rooted beliefs in leadership:
that responsibility, power, and impact must sit with one person.
In reality, leadership today is too complex, too fast, and too demanding for outdated solo models. This book shows how co-leadership — two leaders sharing one role with full accountability — is not an exception, but a strategic response to the changing world of work.
Grounded in real experience and practical insight, Co-Leadership reveals how job sharing at leadership level creates stronger decisions, higher resilience, and sustainable performance — while enabling diversity, flexibility, and humanity at the top.
If you’re serious about the future of leadership, this is not optional reading.
It’s a blueprint.
5 Things This Book Will Teach You
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Learn about the different forms of shared leadership—from a clear division of roles to creating a persona, anything is possible. The book shows how co-leadership can be practiced in different ways, depending on the organization, level of responsibility, and life situation. You will learn which models suit your situation and how you can rethink leadership – flexibly, innovatively, and with an eye to the future.
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No two tandems are alike. Using the six fields of tandem work, you will learn how to tailor your tandem to your specific needs: from values and mindset to role distribution, structure, tools, communication, and external impact. The book offers guiding questions and practical exercises to lay the foundation for your tandem and a practice-oriented framework with which you can develop your own “operating model” and keep it alive in everyday life.
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Are you already convinced of co-leadership, but encounter reservations in your environment? This book dispels myths and shows you how to confidently counter skepticism—among superiors, employees, or in your private life. You will learn to refute common misconceptions and present your tandem with its strengths—with clear arguments and tried-and-tested strategies.
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What does co-leadership mean for organizations and what added value does it really bring? The book also examines co-leadership from a corporate perspective: it shows why tandems promote innovation, stability, and employer attractiveness, and how human resources departments can create the right conditions. You will learn which success factors are crucial for co-leadership to work in a company—structurally, culturally, and personally.
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Ten tandems from different industries openly share their experiences: about shared responsibility, virtual collaboration, conflict resolution, and personal growth. Their stories show how diverse co-leadership can be and encourage others to explore new approaches to leadership.
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A free preview of the first pages of Co-Leadership
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FAQ
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Co-leadership, also known as shared leadership or top sharing, is a flexible working model in which two people jointly assume responsibility for a team, a project, or a topic. This responsibility is divided in job sharing so that both managers are equally involved in strategic and operational decision
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Co-leadership relieves managers, strengthens decisions, and increases impact within the company. Two people share responsibility, contribute different perspectives, and thus make more balanced, well-founded decisions. They complement each other's strengths, can act flexibly, and create space for innovation and personal development. For companies, this means higher leadership quality, more stable teams, fewer absences due to overload, and a culture based on trust, cooperation, and sustainabilit
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The Co-Leadership book is more relevant than ever: in a time of change, hybrid work, and new values in the working world, it shows how shared leadership complements modern leadership skills. It explains how leadership works in tandem, what models are available, and how organizations can become more flexible and successful through joint leadership.
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Unlike many theoretical leadership books, the Co-Leadership book combines practice, research, and personal experience. It provides real-life examples, tools, and reflection questions to help implement shared leadership in a concrete way—not an off-the-shelf model, but a guide to authentic leadership in tandem.
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The Co-Leadership book is aimed at managers, HR teams, consultants, and anyone who wants to understand or experience modern forms of shared leadership. It is also suitable for curious individuals who simply want to learn more about tandem leadership and are looking for inspiration for new working models.
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Yes, definitely. Even those who already practice co-leadership will find new perspectives, practical examples, and further inspiration for daily collaboration in the Co-Leadership book. The book deepens the understanding of shared leadership and shows how leadership in tandem can be developed in the long term and successfully anchored in a corporate context.
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The Co-Leadership book provides concrete strategies, reflection questions, and tools that you can use to shape your tandem collaboration. It shows how shared leadership works, how roles, communication, and trust are established—and how you can successfully develop your own tandem leadership.
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Yes, the Co-Leadership book is also suitable for readers who want to familiarize themselves with the topic of shared leadership. It inspires readers to think about new ways of working together and provides insights into how tandem leadership works as a model for the future—regardless of current position or industry.
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Readers of the Co-Leadership book gain a deep understanding of how shared leadership works and the added value that tandem leadership creates. They receive inspiration, tools, and confidence to experience leadership in a new way—in partnership, effectively, and humanely.
Co-leadership is more than a model. It is an attitude.
Stefanie Junghans and Janina Schönitz are passionate Co-leaders! They are convinced that the future of work requires flexible work models that allow people to live and work in a way that adapts to their individual needs.
Stefanie and Janina met in 2022 as speakers at a conference. It quickly became clear that they shared a passion for Co-Leadership and a desire to increase awareness of this topic. This is how the joint blog #welovecoleadership was born, which has gained great popularity on the LinkedIn platform.
Reviews of the book
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The book by Stefanie Junghans and Janina Schönitz is right on the pulse of the times. With ‘Co-Leadership,’ they have created a book that addresses what employees feel and what companies want to know. It provides concrete advice on how to implement Co-Leadership and take action. Both authors have compiled actionable recommendations to successfully start as a tandem and offer specific ideas on how companies can establish Co-Leadership. Both speak from personal experience and complement this with inspiring real-life examples. For me, it’s clear: it takes courage to take new paths – I’m in!
Cawa Younosi, former Global Head of People Experience, Head of People Germany - SAP
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When the first companies, newspaper editorial teams, and political parties suddenly filled their top positions with two people instead of one, they were met with skepticism. Can this really work, or are these Co-Leaders just avoiding full responsibility? Meanwhile, dual leadership roles have not only become more common but have also been recognized as a success model. However, Co-Leadership is not a given. Janina Schönitz and Stefanie Junghans – both experienced Co-Leaders themselves – show in their book the possibilities and key factors for success. They do this so convincingly that readers will inevitably ask themselves: Who would I be able to form a good team with?
Koni, Executive Editor Führung, Technologie und Wissenschaft - getAbstract
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Stefanie Junghans and Janina Schönitz provide an optimistic outlook on the future of the workplace, where work hours can be made more flexible. The opportunity of sharing responsibility, stepping back once in a while, or taking parental leave without fear of being fired is a way to strengthen employee health and resilience. 'Co-Leadership turns two individuals into a tandem. Both remain visible as individuals. Tandem work is not about giving up one’s individuality, but rather about filling the shared role together and finding the best outcome for both,' say the authors. A shared vision of collaboration is key to unlocking the true magic of Co-Leadership. Or as Janina Messerschmidt puts it: 'One plus one is more than two.' Stefanie Junghans and Janina Schönitz show how tandems develop their shared vision in their guide.
Christiane Kürschner - Roter Reiter
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![Das Bild zeigt das Amazon-Logo mit fünf gelben Sternen darüber. Es gibt eine kleine Textmarkierung mit dem Namen 'Remazing' in der unteren rechten Ecke.]()
The book by Janina Schönitz and Stefanie Junghans arrives at just the right time. As a mom – currently on parental leave – I am reflecting on my career next steps. A full-time job is unthinkable for me. That’s why the topic of job sharing is an attractive work model. Whether in a leadership or expert role, the book provides not only an understanding of the various terminologies related to tandem work models but also offers practical insights into lived experiences. It is both inspiring and a call to action for those looking to make their company future-ready. Thank you, Steffi and Janina, for this fantastic read.
Julia Brandl - Amazon Review
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![Amazon Logo mit fünf gelben Sternen über dem Schriftzug, kleiner Remazing-Logo in der unteren rechten Ecke.]()
The book presents Co-Leadership in a very clear and accessible way. It’s a practical guide with interviews featuring successful Co-Leadership examples. Topics ranging from model implementation to legal aspects and common prejudices are covered. A very successful book, even for those who aren’t deeply involved in the subject or aren’t Co-Leaders themselves, and want to understand what Co-Leadership is all about.
Sophia Kern - Amazon Review
