Transition is a Team Sport: Why “Successor Development Plans” Fall Short
We get this question constantly: “How do we build a successor development plan?”
I understand the impulse behind it. You want your successor to succeed — not just for their sake, but because their success directly impacts your transition, your relationships, and your legacy. When succession fails, it’s rarely gentle. Relationships fracture, businesses struggle, and years of careful planning can unravel quickly.
But here’s what I’ve learned after three decades of guiding transitions: the very phrase “successor development plan” sets up a dynamic that can undermine the outcome you’re working toward.