Today is the launch day for our newest book, Succession: Seven Practices to Navigate Mission-Critical Leadership Transitions. We’re grateful for the many people who invested into this book: the leaders who candidly shared their stories of success and failure, the friends who offered keen insights on the planning process, and the reviewers whose refinements helped to make this a stronger resource.
When Doug, Brianna, and I started writing this book in January, we had recently heard from several friends who had walked through challenging leadership transitions. And in the months since that time, we’ve seen a growing number of leaders start to think more seriously about succession planning, especially in light of the massive challenges and changes of 2020.
While we do not have a date for our own transitions, we are immensely thankful for the time to explore the postures and practices needed to effectively pass on the leadership baton. And, we hope that this book is a helpful resource for you as you consider your own transition—even if it’s years from this moment.
Mike Sharrow, president of the C12 Group, shared, “My board asked me to be ready to do succession planning within two years of starting, with the hope that God would afford me over 20 years with the company. They knew that if I started with succession in mind, the organization would be healthier. Once we surrender the mission, knowing it’s not ‘ours,’ we can truly steward the idea of succession with joy.”
At its core, this book is an invitation to live every day in light of the fact that we all will eventually transition. Each of us is part of a mission that extends beyond the brief moment that we are entrusted to steward it. Preparing for succession begins by looking far beyond the confines of our office, our strategic objectives, and our tenure.
Several years ago, as a tangible way of reminding myself of my temporary title, I wrote my resignation letter. Writing it was a simple recognition that one day I will walk out of HOPE International and my title will be handed to someone else. Hopefully, that day will be marked by a celebration of all that God has done and will continue to do.
Whether you are planning to transition from your role in two months or 20 years, here are three simple ways that you can begin preparing for succession:
- Write your resignation letter. Consider writing your resignation letter as a tangible way of remembering that your transition is coming! This is one of the best reminders to live today with purpose and clarity about what matters most and to build an organization that outlasts any one season of leadership. It also helps spot ways that your leadership might be focused on your own legacy instead of a bigger Kingdom vision. Think beyond yourself.
- Consider the season. Have you paused long enough to listen if it might be time for you to consider a transition? If God is prompting you to more actively prepare, do you have the courage to follow through? Do you have clarity on the next steps to take? Consider going away for a 24-hour retreat at least once a year to pray for discernment, wisdom, and an openness to stay or to go.
- Invest in potential leaders. Over a decade ago, Alec Hill, president of InterVarsity at the time, helped to create a prospective senior leadership cohort. The cohort offered coaching and training to prepare rising leaders for senior-level positions. When you look at your leadership pipeline, what do you see? Internally, how many candidates are ready to assume your role? Are you actively providing opportunities, especially for internal staff, to develop and grow?
Moses writes in Psalm 90: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” When we carry God’s perspective of our life, our perspective moves from nearsighted and temporal to global and eternal. Let’s commit to building organizations and institutions that outlast any one person’s tenure.
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Learn more and order a copy of Succession here.