Tool Gallery
A set of tools for co-leaders and is based on and accompanies the research. Each tool complements the ‘Emerging’, ‘Nurturing’ and ‘Evolving’ sections of the research. It is inspired and informed by many other sources and we hope for it to be a live list that grows and evolves as others add to it.
Is co-leadership right for your organisation?
This is a self-evaluation tool to support you in thinking about whether you or your organisation are ready to take up a co-leadership model.
Creation of a co-leadership statement
This activity is designed to be completed with your co-lead(s), with the resulting statement being shared with the wider organisation and board.
Developing an accountability framework
This exercise sets out a process to complete an accountability framework that should become a living document and should be clearly communicated to staff.
Mapping power within your organisation
As well as completing the checklist, you may also wish to conduct a power mapping and decision making within your organisation to better understand how co-leadership might be a tool to work towards more shared power and transformation.
Setting boundaries & ways of working
Use this exercise to explore each others’ ways of working preferences and boundaries.
Professional development
As with any role, a co-leadership role should support the individual’s professional development goals and help them build new areas of expertise.
Building rituals
Rituals can be simple regular practices you integrate into your day to day, into regular meetings, or to mark specific occasions, in-person meetings, celebrations and transitions.
Developing a self & collective care plan
Creating a self and collective care plan is a way to stay accountable to yourself and with your co-lead(s). This plan should be revisited throughout the year, perhaps when you are together in person and can spend time together exploring self-care practices or building rituals.
Diagnosing challenges or what is going wrong
This exercise encourages you to reflect on your own ego through practising self-awareness. It then provides practical prompts to guide you and your co-lead(s) to develop a conflict resolution plan.
Navigating conflict together
This exercise encourages you to reflect on your own ego through practising self-awareness. It then provides practical prompts to guide you and your co-lead(s) to develop a conflict resolution plan.
Conflict resolution scenario planning
Below is a set of scenarios that you will use in this activity. Read through each one and then follow the instructions.
Creating space for feedback
A commitment to share feedback with each other, formalised with a simple process will help to not only create open channels between co-leads, but also between and with staff.
Power and vulnerability garden
This activity, inspired by the SWOT, is more personal. It is a reflection activity for co-leads to complete individually.
Supporting through the highs and the lows
This activity will take you to two times in your life, evoking a negative or challenging memory and then a positive and nourishing one.
Exit strategy checklist
The Exit Strategy Checklist is a tool when one or more co-leads decide to leave their role. It should be supplemented by space for learning, reflection, celebration and joy.
Looking back
This is an opportunity for ‘harvesting’ your achievements, moments of joy, experiences and lessons learned, good and bad. The activity includes individual journalling, collective reflection and tips for capturing and sharing your experience.