The Co-Captain Approach: A Shared Leadership Model for Building Stronger Leaders
Think about how many leaders you’ve worked with during your career.
It’s probably more than you realise. Your managers, their leaders, and others across the organisation. But here’s the real question: how many of them were truly excellent leaders?
For most people, the answer is “very few.”
That’s not surprising. Many Australian leaders rise through the ranks because they’re technically strong, not because they’re skilled at leading people. They know their job, but not always how to get the best out of others.
In today’s business landscape, that gap is holding organisations back. To create sustainable growth, we need new ways of building leadership capacity and developing future leaders — approaches that go beyond traditional training.
What Makes an Excellent Leader?
An excellent leader isn’t defined by technical ability alone.
They also know how to make great people decisions, who to promote, how to coach, how to inspire. They build culture, nurture trust, and help others become leaders themselves.
But here’s the challenge: few leaders ever receive proper training in the people side of leadership. They’ve learned on the job, often from leaders who were never taught either. It’s the professional equivalent of a bad driver teaching the next generation of drivers.
So, how do we fix it?
Introducing the Co-Captain Shared Leadership Model
Borrowed from elite sport, the Co-Captain concept pairs two leaders with complementary strengths — one focuses on technical and strategic performance, while the other focuses on people, culture, and growth.
Applied to business, the Co-Captain becomes an external leadership advisor who works beside a leader to strengthen the people side of the organisation. They are not HR, not a consultant, and not a coach on the sidelines. They’re a trusted partner in the business, practical, strategic, and focused on developing leaders at every level.
This collaborative leadership approach helps balance operational demands with long-term capability building. The leader drives performance; the Co-Captain builds leadership capability and culture. Together, they drive transformation.
Why Internal HR Support Isn’t Enough
Many businesses assume their internal HR or “People and Culture” team can fill this gap. But internal teams often lack the independence and authority needed to challenge senior leaders constructively. They can easily become subordinates rather than equals.
An external Co-Captain is different.
They bring objectivity, experience, and freedom to speak the truth, without worrying about hierarchy or politics. That’s what makes this model one of the most effective leadership support programs available today.
The ROI of Real Leadership Development
Research shows that only 10% of leadership learning happens in formal training programs, while 90% happens on the job, through coaching, mentoring, and real-world experiences.
If your leaders are learning leadership from untrained managers, the results can be costly.
By embedding a Co-Captain, you’re ensuring that 90% of that on-the-job learning comes from someone who knows what great leadership looks like.
It’s a smarter investment. Instead of spending thousands on workshops that deliver minimal impact, the Co-Captain model embeds leadership coaching for managers directly into everyday operations.
How the Co-Captain Model Builds Leadership and Culture
When implemented well, this model enhances leadership and culture development in powerful ways:
- Improving team leadership skills: On-the-job coaching helps leaders learn in real time.
- Developing future leaders: Co-Captains mentor emerging talent across all levels.
- Creating a collaborative culture: Shared leadership encourages trust, accountability, and transparency.
- Building leadership capacity: The organisation gains multiple capable leaders instead of one overworked manager.
- Strengthening retention and engagement: People want to work for leaders who develop them.
A Smarter Way to Build Strong Leaders
So, if you’re wondering how to build strong leaders, start by rethinking the structure of leadership itself.
One person can’t excel at everything. The Co-Captain shared leadership model provides the support, structure, and expertise to create exceptional leaders, and in turn, exceptional teams.
It’s not about replacing your leaders; it’s about helping them thrive.
Final Thoughts
In Australia’s evolving workplace, leadership development can’t rely on outdated training models. It requires a collaborative leadership approach that develops capability where it counts, in the flow of work, with expert support.
If your organisation is serious about improving leadership, culture, and performance, it might be time to give your leaders a Co-Captain. Schedule an obligation free chat now.
📞 Call 1300 551 274 or Ross directly on 0412 490 250
📧 Email: team@teamfocusplus.com
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