Effective succession

IT is said the word success is incomplete without the word succession. Succession is a bone of contention in many sectors that include government, companies and the church. We have had fights when one is supposed to step down and give in to new leaders.

Today, we discuss the effective means to passing on the baton. The African continent is awash with the news of presidents who want to stay forever in power. This has led to wars or coup d'états.

That tends to be more costly than if there was a transition. As discussed in the previous column, transition is inevitable, with or without you. Then the question becomes: how smooth will that transition be?

Be willing to let go

The important thing every leader needs to know and receive is that your presence is not permanent. That means someone will ultimately replace you and you must be willing to hand over power to whoever comes after you.

We are in a relay, so be willing to pass on the baton to the next leader so that your success and the success of the institution continues after you are gone.

Remember, being a leader comes with a lot of advantages, which include pecks, authority, power and access, but you must be willing to let go of all those.

Effectively hand over power

Some leaders have handed over power, but not in an effective way. As you take over leadership, you must be thinking of exiting or retiring from that post effectively. Think of the end at your start.

That means you must be willing to groom followers to be leaders and inspire leaders to multiply leadership. That will ensure that success will continue. When you exist as a leader, it’s a misnomer for the following person to start from scratch. Let them take from where you left.

Identify potential leaders

The strength of a leader during his tenure is the ability to identify talent and grow it. Identify skills, capabilities, gifts and endowments within your group which will take over when you are gone.

Plan your exit

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Plan how you are going to effectively exit. Some leaders have waited until they are too old, and subordinates start to scuffle for the post because now they can see that your death is imminent. At times your relevance becomes overtaken by streams of events, you must be willing to step down with grace.

Mentor and coach

Leaders are not only meant to be in control of a company or organisation, but they must play a role of a mentor or a coach. A coach is someone who enables and empowers others to be better.

This is done when a leader makes other people aware of their innate or hidden abilities and the leader helps them to release that potential. People you lead also have dreams and aspirations, so it is up to you as a leader to coach them to realise those dreams.

Remember, it is said people will remember you not for what you did, but how you made them feel. Make them feel good about themselves and what they can possibly achieve. People must not be controlled but influenced and inspired to become better.

Let the company grow beyond your personality

When entrepreneurs start a business, they at times forget that they will hand it over to someone. At times when you start something, you have an attachment and you want to be always managing it.

Allow what you started to grow beyond you. Automate and systematise your leadership so that it does not need you.

When you die now, will you die with your secrets and formulas? If so, the business will die with you.