What If You Had Two HR SVPs? Co-Leadership: Fabulous or Forget-About-It!??
Kathy Rapp3.26.2011
I often think about how much I could accomplish if there were two of me. This thought has become like a reoccurring dream now that I have an infant. Wouldn't it be amazing to duplicate yourself or partner with someone who was as driven, competent and terrific as you are? To my surprise, the concept of co-leadership is alive, and sometimes well, in the C-suite.
More from a 2009 Business Week article:
"Despite the obvious problems with power-sharing, a number of companies have make it work. Besides Aeropostale, companies that have co-CEOs include restaurant chains California Pizza Kitchen, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and P.F. Chang's China Bistro; technology companies Motorola Research in Motion (RIM), and Twitter; as well as food company J.M. Smucker and Indian outsourcing giant Wipro.
What's more, some of them are thriving. The stocks of Chipotle and P.F. Chang's are up 56% and 66% respectively since they split the role in January. If leaders have complementary skills and a proven track record of subsuming their egos to work together, notes senior partner David Bliss of consultancy Oliver Wyman Delta (MMC), it can work, but it's difficult."
So what about this concept of co-leadership? Do you think it has legs? Historically it hasn't panned out that well unless it happens in a team-oriented culture were responsibilities are clearly delineated and there are no power struggles. Uh huh. That just described one in a million organizations out there.
What if there were co-SVP's of HR in your organization? How do yo think that would play out? Much like a CEO job, the top dog in HR is not a cake role. Perhaps one person could focus on strategy and talent management and the other would take the more tactical view and HR operations? Both would be involved in key decisions and second down staff would feel that much more connected and empowered as a result. As a bonus, each could actually use their PTO time and not have to worry about checking their smart phone every 30 minutes!
Co-CEOs have struggled; Co-Superstars in sports have not always come out on top (Kobe & Shaq); and we all know the VP will never be on par with the President of the United States.
Could a co-SVP,H R actually work under the right circumstances and would the structure bring even greater breadth and depth to the role. Or would inefficiency, slower decision making and a mom vs. dad situation occur... I don't like this answer so let me try the other parent.
It's an interesting concept especially as organizations grow more complex and leaders are expected to expand with the business. I'm curious if anyone out there has experienced it and whether it was successful? Hit me with your thoughts.
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