What does it take to lead effectively while working part-time or flexibly? In our latest podcast episode, we explore this question with Prof. Anja Karlshaus, President of CBS International Business School and a thought leader in flexible work and leadership.

Here are three key insights from the session that might just redefine how you think about leadership:

1️⃣ Flexible Leadership is a Business Asset
Prof. Karlshaus emphasized that part-time leadership is not a compromise but a strategic advantage. Organizations embracing this model report higher productivity, improved work-life balance for leaders, and enhanced employee satisfaction.

2️⃣ Rethink the Role of Time in Leadership
„It’s not about hours worked, but about outcomes delivered.“ Prof. Karlshaus challenged traditional success metrics, advocating for impact-focused leadership that values effectiveness over presence.

3️⃣ Practical Steps for Organizations

• Normalize part-time roles at all levels.

• Equip leaders with tools for communication and coordination.

• Create policies that encourage diverse leadership styles, making flexibility a core value rather than an exception.

Why it matters:
Part-time leadership isn’t just a trend—it’s a sustainable approach to developing inclusive, agile, and resilient organizations. It also creates pathways for caregivers, diverse talent, and those prioritizing both career and personal goals.

💡 Ready to embrace flexible leadership?
🎧 Tune in now to hear more practical strategies and inspiring stories from Prof. Karlshaus.

#FlexibleLeadership #PartTimeLeadership #NewWork #DiversityInLeadership #MyCollective

🌟 It Takes Two to Tango: Tandem as a Business Case & Career Track Solution 🌟

Why is job sharing the go-to career track solution for some, while others see it as a costly, complicated red flag? In our latest session, I had the honor of hosting @Svenja Christen, founder of @Jobsharing Hub and @PairToShare, who shared the inside scoop on why tandems are a powerful option for staying on the career path with reduced hours—and how to pitch the business case effectively.

Here are Svenja’s top tips if you’re considering a tandem role:
👤 Know Yourself: Ask if you’re the type for tandem work. Successful job sharing means a new approach to collaboration, shared goals, and task transparency.
🤝 Find Your Partner: Reach out! Find a colleague or partner with aligned goals and talk to those already in similar roles.
🧑‍💼 Check Leadership Support: Look into which leaders are supportive or even excited about tandems. Their buy-in is key.

📣 Prepare a Tailored Pitch: Craft a pitch that highlights both your personal goals and the business benefits. Address any reservations—show that job sharing can be both efficient and inspiring. Remember, a tandem sets an example and opens doors for others. And here’s a big selling point: by supporting this model, your manager could become a true change maker for diversity!

Tandems are more than a work-life solution—they’re a smart business strategy and a way for companies to lead the charge in diversity and flexibility.

Who’s ready to explore the benefits of job sharing in their team?
💬 Let’s talk in the comments!

#JobSharing #CareerGrowth #TandemWork #MyCollective #DiversityAndInclusion #FlexibleWork

🌟 Navigating Perfectionism as Parents and Professionals with Nora Dahlström 🌟

Balancing career ambitions with parenting can often feel like an impossible mission—especially for those of us aiming to be ‚perfect‘ in both worlds. I had the pleasure of hosting Nora Dahlström, expert management consultant and executive coach, for an insightful session on the topic of perfectionism in our personal and professional lives.

Here’s a summary of Nora’s key takeaways to reflect on:

🔹 Perfectionism = Mission Impossible Nora reminded us that striving for perfection in every area, especially as working parents, is not only exhausting but often unattainable. She calls this “Mission Impossible.” Instead of pushing for perfection, focus on doing things “well enough”—it can be freeing!

🔹 Identify Your „Perfection Triggers“ Perfectionism often stems from a fear of making mistakes, losing control, or a deep-seated desire for acceptance. Nora encouraged us to recognize these personal triggers and shift our mindset towards self-compassion.

🔹 Make Space for Flexibility True resilience comes not from rigidly controlling every aspect of work and home life but from cultivating trust—in your partner, colleagues, and, importantly, yourself.

For anyone juggling multiple roles, this session was a reminder that striving to “do it all” is not sustainable. Instead, let’s reframe our expectations, allowing room for personal growth and balanced well-being.

💬 What’s one perfectionist habit you’re working on letting go of? Let me know in the comments!

#MyCollective #ParentingAndCareers #WorkLifeBalance #LeadershipSkills #CareerDevelopment

At MyCollective, we’re experts at converting parenting skills into leadership skills, but every now and then, we all need a gentle nudge to flip the script. We were delighted to receive that reminder from Louisa Plasberg, Co-Founder of Equaly, who wisely advises: “Professionalize your private life!”

For the past six years, MyCollective has been dedicated to helping parents balance career and family by guiding them through our Golden Triangle—the integration of the Care Model, Working Model, and Mental Load. Louisa and her co-founder, Ronja Hoffacker, developed their app, Equaly, to tackle two of these critical dimensions—Mental Load and Care Work—offering a game-changing tool to conquer the often invisible and overwhelming burdens of family life.

In our recent session, Louisa shared insights that resonated perfectly with our mission:

💡 Key Takeaways on Mastering Mental Load:

1. Mind the “Manager and Executor” Dynamic

   Whoever takes on a task should be prepared to see it through from start to finish. For example, laundry isn’t done when it’s washed—it’s only complete when it’s dried, folded, and put away. If you’re delegating but still mentally tracking the task, you’re still carrying the mental load.

2. It’s Not a Zero-Sum Game!

   A rigid 50/50 split doesn’t always work. Flexibility and the willingness to play to each other’s strengths lead to a more harmonious home life. It’s not about strict equality but about balance and mutual understanding.

3. Routine ≠ One-Time Chores

   Routine tasks like cooking or packing lunchboxes can feel more mentally exhausting than occasional ones, like repairing a bike or filing taxes. Understanding this helps in distributing tasks more fairly.

🔥 Louisa’s Tips for Reducing Mental Load:

✨ Shine a Light on Care Work: Care work is real work. Make sure it’s recognized and valued.

✨ Own the Whole Process: Commit to seeing a task through, whether it’s doing the laundry or organizing activities for the kids.

✨ Keep the Communication Flowing: Open, ongoing communication is essential, especially as family responsibilities evolve. Regular check-ins and clear agreements help maintain a smoother rhythm.

🔥 Bonus Insights:

❤️‍🔥 Men who take on more care work are often perceived as more attractive!

❤️‍🔥 Couples who share tasks more evenly report higher satisfaction in their relationship—yes, even in the bedroom.

As a special gift, Louisa offered all our participants and podcast listeners a free one-month trial of the Equaly app! Use the promo code MYCOLLECTIVE2024 to experience how the app can help you balance your own Golden Triangle. 🎉

🎧 Don’t miss out: Catch the full podcast episode for even more valuable insights!

Getting married is wonderful. So is having kids. But too often, women pull the short straw – Petra von Strombeck, CEO at New Work SE, has seen this happen time and time again.

“Young women often make these decisions without thinking about the long-term impact on their career and their financial independence,” she says in our latest podcast. The Ministry of Labour’s statistics speak for themselves: 80% of part-time workers are women. “Obviously it’s because they still do most of the care work,” she says. 

The consequence? “38% of women in Germany are heading for a pension of less than €1000. You’re in a long-term relationship, everything looks fine, but if you look at the divorce rates, there’s a 50-50 chance that it will break up. How do you get back to a job where you earn a decent living, and compensate financially for what you lacked in the last years?”

She offers up plenty of solutions, which I’ve broken down into three main hacks that I want to share with you here:

Protect your financial independence. Work out how much parental leave, going part-time, passing up that promotion will cost you long-term, bearing in mind that every missed career step or reduction in hours will also reduce your savings and pension further down the line. Then take steps to minimise that cost, starting with making clear choices when you’re starting out as a family. Talk to your partner, “and negotiate in a contract how you will handle a divorce or separation. It’s not romantic, but it’s a bare necessity. A marriage is a contract, and has a lot of financial consequences. And you are all business women, you negotiate contracts every day!”

Be creative about solving the care work issue. It’s about more than just innovative fluid work models (tandem, part-time etc) – it’s about sharing the work at home too. “Is there a solution where both partners work 75% rather than one 50% and one 100%?” asks Petra. Team up with neighbours, get relatives involved, hire a nanny – put solutions in place that don’t leave the mental load and associated work on your shoulders.

Have the courage to ask for that promotion – especially if you’re about to go on parental leave. It could be a win-win for everyone, because your replacement can then stay in that job even after you come back, because you’ll be moving up. AND it means that you don’t have to shelve that dream of moving your career up a notch every time you have a baby. 

“Parenting actually increases your skill-set,” Petra says. “So whatever your qualification was, parenting will increase your skill set to make you even more capable of then having that next job.”

Speaker: Petra von Strombeck – CEO @New Work SE

Host: Dr. Ricarda Engelmeier – Founder @MyCollective

Photo: New Work SE   

#getinspired #podcast #inspiration #MyCollective #leadership #parenthood #workingmoms #equalcare #womenleaders #changemakers #getinspiredpodcast #ImpulseSessions #parentalleave #elternzeit