Succession Planning: Heres One Crisis You Can Avoid! 2012 AIRS Training and Education Conference Jackie Hall | Pathways Consulting Inc | May 23, 2012

Welcome! 1.How valuable an experience do you plan to have? 2.How engaged and active do you plan to be? 3.How invested are you in the quality of the experience of those around you? Individually rate: 1 = very low; 7 = very high Discuss with those around you

Learning Objectives Recognize importance to organizational viability Complete succession readiness checklist Understand three methods to develop Know steps in creating a plan Learn about real-life example

References/Resources CompassPoint Executive Search & Transition Succession Planning templates, compasspoint.org/et The Annie E. Casey Foundation Executive Transition Monograph Series, aecf.org Chief Executive Succession Planning, Nancy R. Axelrod BoardSource.org

Succession Fire Drill What would you need to do? What would you need to know?

Its Important… Risk management Resiliency Shared leadership Energizing Generational need

OK, if its so important, why do we resist doing it???

Succession Planning for Nonprofits Not about heir apparent Not a one-time event Fosters shared vision/strategy Build bench strength Sound infrastructure and transition plan

Why Might You Initiate It? New board leadership CEO evaluation Board self-assessment Strategic planning Organizational crisis

Organizational Life Cycle

How Ready are YOU… for a Smooth Transition?

Possible Approaches to Succession Planning Strategic Leadership Development Temporary/Emergency Departure-Defined

Steps in Emergency Succession Planning 1.Identify priority functions 2.Decide who should cover 3.Define procedures (short-, long-term) 4.Establish process for acting executive 5.Draft communication plan 6.Implement documentation/cross-training 7.Build in a review process

Departure-Defined Additional Considerations Personal and professional issues Establish time frames Build into strategic plan Determine executive search strategy Executive Emeritus role?

Case Example Marguerite Redwine Chief Executive Officer New Orleans, Louisiana

Emergency Succession Plan Challenges Successes Lessons Learned

Departure-Defined Succession Plan Challenges Successes Lessons Learned

Action Planning Use Readiness Checklist Identify Critical Gaps Information and Contact Inventory Begin the Conversation: Get Started!

Questions? Takeaways?