A key question to ask related to succession planning is, why are you doing it? Another question might be, what do you want the successors to be prepared to do? These two questions fit well together and if they are both not answered with the best thinking you can muster, your succession planning effort could be just checking another box in your organizational life.
Leadership development and the application of what is learned is critical to the success of any organization and is critically important to a service organization.
You have worked hard at developing your career and won a promotion, a junior leadership role. Well done! All you have to do is work hard in this new job and your future in leadership is assured! That’s the plan.
One of my lousy bosses (yes, I’ve had more than one) would make grand promises to staff and customers but kept few commitments. I learned not to trust his word.
There is immeasurable value in the knowledge and experience that allows us to be adaptable, versatile, and capable of continuing to serve. But a greater value may be found in helping those among us find new strategies and opportunities to succeed.