Real learning gets to the heart of what it means to be human. Through learning we become able to do something we never were able to do.
― Peter M. Senge
― Peter M. Senge
Do you have a will? Does the thought of outlining what you want done with your stuff after your earthly departure fill you with dread? Well it shouldn't. And neither should creating a succession plan for your organization! It's hard to acknowledge that one day we won't be here - either physically or in our current job. But making a plan can help make sure a CEO transition won't mean the end of your mission-driven organization. Executive transitions are difficult for both for-profits and not-for-profits. But in the social sector, these transitions can be incredibly damaging to the mission if they are not handled well. As a consultant, I've seen two not-for-profit merger/alignment projects derailed when the leader left before the process was was over. (You know who you are!) As a board member I've helped to shutter one organization because a poor hire (and subsequent un-hire) made for an 18+ month transition and no funders willing to see how the story ended.
So what makes for a healthy transition? Assuming that the leader has contributed to the health (financially, cultural, etc), time is probably the most important element. CEO's are the face and the personification of the organization. Philanthropy invests in people. Donors give to people. Government officials receive testimony from people. Public media outlets interview people. And most often, the person most likely to fill those roles is the CEO. To transfer those relationships time and careful planning are required. So what do CEO's need to consider? Mario Marino's Leap of Reason Ambassador Community has published a great piece on just that subject. Board Member? CEO? Senior Leader? This piece is for you. It reminds us all that despite our reluctance to have the conversation, succession planning is a critical tool for healthy organizations. Now about your will... you need to go do that too! Comments are closed.
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