Succession planning is critical for ensuring that important roles within your organization, including executive positions, are not left vacant for extended periods, nor staffed by employees who lack the skill to execute those roles effectively.

Whether it’s a long-serving leader who decides to retire or a middle manager who accepts a new position, transitions can happen any time, and succession planning is crucial for keeping the organization running smoothly.

That’s the big picture, but actually, there’s quite a bit more that can be said about the importance of succession planning within any business organization.

Succession Planning Summarized

First things first: When we talk about succession planning, exactly what are we talking about?

Basically, succession planning is an ongoing process by which businesses ensure the continuity of mission-critical roles. This process involves identifying essential roles, recognizing future leaders, and investing in the kinds of training and development needed for those future leaders to transition effectively into roles of greater responsibility.

Succession planning may not be relevant for every role; for example, you’ll want to have a succession plan for your senior executives, but probably not for entry-level account representatives. Succession planning is relevant for every business, though, no matter the size and scale. In fact, family-owned businesses may benefit from succession planning most of all.

Why Does Succession Planning Matter?

That brings us to the topic at hand: What makes succession planning so meaningful? There are several reasons why succession planning is important:

• Succession planning reduces risk and disruption when key stakeholders exit. Imagine that one of your senior-most leaders has to leave the company quite abruptly, perhaps due to an unexpected medical issue, and you’re left without a succession plan in place. Whichever employee is suddenly thrust into the leadership role is bound to be a little anxious, scared, or simply ill-prepared. This can cause your whole team to experience a loss of confidence. It may also lead to greater turnover in your leadership roles.
• Succession planning ensures knowledge transfer. Many of the skills related to business leadership, sales, and management can be taught. But institutional knowledge about your company, your team, and your clients can be difficult for any new leader to “pick up,” unless there is a succession plan in place to ensure this knowledge is transferred appropriately.
• Succession planning provides clarity for employees. Most employees want to know what their path looks like for professional development and career advancement. A succession plan can ensure that your highest performers have a complete understanding of the opportunities available to them. This can be an important way to retain your strongest employees, and to keep them fully engaged.
• Succession planning is a way to invest in the future. Broadly speaking, succession planning is a way to invest in training a new generation of leaders, in a way that’s structured and focused.

There are plenty of reasons to make succession planning a priority at your business. A great place to start is picking up a copy of our new book, The Family Business Blueprint: Creating Your Succession Roadmap; We’d love to coach you through the process, or simply to answer any questions you may have about meaningful succession planning.  Reach out to WhiteWater Consulting at any time!