Sharing the leadership: chair and chief executive

Abstract

A special aspect of being a leader at the top of some organizations is that the leadership has to be shared. The most common form of sharing at the top is, as in the NHS, between the chair and the chief executive. It is this relationship that will be analysed here in the same format as before: ideal, difficulties in the way of achieving the ideal and steps forward. In the next chapter we shall look at the sharing that takes place in teams at different levels in the organization.

‘It is remarkable how well you and the chief executive gell, so that you each come in as appropriate.’

(An observer of a meeting commenting to the chair)