Unexpected findings
During the recruitment of participants it became evident that some units used a co-manager model to oversee operations. Two pairs of Generation X co-managers from two distinct specialty areas were included in the participant pool. Each co-manager was interviewed individually. Each co-manager described an excellent relationship with their co-manager partner. The importance of good, consistent communication was described as essential for a successful comanager relationship. Because they felt that they were
able to step-away from their managerial duties when their partner was ‘on duty’ as a manager, they described high job satisfaction levels. While co-managers
still communicated with emails and texts even when one of the co-managers was off, the perceived break from responsibility was appreciated. More than one of the co-manager participants stated:
‘I would not consider being in charge of a unit if I did not have a co-manager’.