Inviting a Co-Leader

Inviting a Co-Leader

We've heard from Circle Leaders that sharing leadership responsibilities can make leading a Circle easier — and a lot more fun.

Decide if co-leading is right for you

Many leaders run thriving Circles on their own. But sharing the role has real advantages. Co-leading reduces the pressure on any one person, brings different strengths into the room, and gives you a built-in support system when life gets busy.

If you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to do this, but I don't want to do it alone," that's a strong signal that a co-leader could help you succeed.

Choose the right partner

The best co-leaders don't need identical skill sets or perspectives. They just need a shared commitment. Look for someone who is:

• Reliable. They show up and follow through.
• Genuinely enthusiastic. They believe in the purpose of the Circle.
• Easy to communicate with. You can be honest, direct, and respectful with each other. Enjoying each other's company is another big plus.

Complementary strengths matter more than matching ones. If you love facilitating conversations but find logistics draining, look for someone who's energized by organizing and planning. If you work best behind the scenes, find a partner who's comfortable leading lively group discussions.

Strong partnerships are built on trust, clarity, and balanced dynamics.

Have the conversation

It doesn't need to be complicated. What matters most is being clear about why you're inviting them to co-lead with you. And leaving them space to say yes or no.

Here are some sample invitations you can use to get the conversation started. Copy, paste, and personalize them before sending.

Sample email

Subject: I'd love to co-lead with you

Hi [Name],

I've been thinking about you lately — how are you?

I recently decided to lead a Lean In Circle. It's a small group of peers who meet monthly to build leadership skills and support each other's ambitions. I immediately thought of you as someone I'd love to co-lead with.

I thought of you because [insert personal reason, e.g. you bring such thoughtful energy to everything you do].

We'd decide together who to invite, how we run the meetings, and what topics to focus on. Lean In provides all the training, discussion guides, and materials — we just bring our time and energy. It should only take between two and four hours a month for planning, communicating with our Circle, and meeting.

I really hope you say yes — but no pressure either way. Want to jump on a quick call to talk it through?

[Your name]

Sample text or DM

Hey [Name]! I'm starting a Lean In Circle. It's a small peer group that meets monthly to support each other's leadership goals. I'd love to co-lead it with you. You'd be such a great partner for this because [insert personal reason]. Want to chat about it?

Establish a strong partnership from the start

Begin with clarity and alignment. Before your first meeting, get together with your co-leader and take 30 minutes or so to make a few early decisions:

• Who will recruit members
• How you'll facilitate meetings (alternate, split sections, or co-facilitate)
• Who handles logistics
• How you'll make decisions if you disagree

These early conversations will prevent confusion later, and help you build trust and a great working relationship.

Add your co-leader to your Circle dashboard

Once your co-leader says yes, you can make it official.

Go to your Circle on Lean In Connect → Click Manage → Go to Member List → Add co-leader to your Circle or select the member to invite as a co-leader → Click the member's profile and check the box to Invite as Leader.

After they accept, they'll have the same access and functionality that you do. Because co-leaders have equal permissions in our community platform, this step works best when there's mutual trust and clear communication.

What to do if it doesn't work out

Challenges can arise, even in strong partnerships. If something feels off, name it early and kindly. A direct conversation is almost always better than letting frustration build.

If you or your co-leader needs to step back, that's okay. One of you can continue leading on your own or invite someone new into the role.

Leadership isn't about getting everything right — it's about learning, adjusting, and moving forward.

Co-leading can make your Circle stronger and make your experience more sustainable. When the partnership works, it creates something bigger than either person could build alone.