Stop Kidding Yourself – You are Not a Stage Five Leader

Mar 20, 2017 | Leadership Development, Succession Planning, WBS

Last week, following my presentation to 150 small business owners, one of the audience members shared with me, “You know, I’ve been a Stage Five Leader for years. That’s not the problem. It’s this vision thing. I don’t think we’ve got that down because I can get away from my business for up to three months, but any longer than that, and it will fail.” I’ll share with you what I told him: Even though you’ve been a Stage 5 leader numerous times in your career, if your team or business cannot...

How Ready Is Your Workforce?

Feb 17, 2015 | Succession Planning

Just so we're clear right from the start with the title of this article, I'm not talking about what many human resources professionals refer to as 'Workforce Readiness' i.e., The 'readiness' of individuals to enter or re-enter the workforce productively and the subsequent training needed to help them acquire the necessary skills to become employable. What I'm talking about when I ask, you as a leader, How Ready is Your Workforce? is this: Is your current workforce ready to support, manage, and...

Letting Go

Aug 20, 2013 | Succession Planning

When it comes to letting go and letting someone else take the reins, can you do it? Do you do it? If so, do you do it well? Given the work my company does, we regularly deal with transitions in leadership. Some of those transitions are smooth; others a bit bumpy. The key to a smooth transition is multi-faceted: You need the right person to step in or step up and take the reins You need an intentional transition plan You need an intentional communication plan, and You need to know when to let...

Create a Succession Plan in Eight Steps

Nov 20, 2012 | Succession Planning

I was recently asked by an association president what basic steps he and the executive committee should consider as they create a succession plan that's effective and simple. There are no plans for the CEO to leave. However, the association has a sound strategic plan and process now in place, so wisely, the association leadership team is looking to put a sound succession plan and process in place as well. That's a smart thing to do. Let me share with you what I shared with him so that you too...

Succession Planning – Your Next Big Project

Jun 5, 2012 | Succession Planning

Every day, there are stories in the media discussing the importance of succession planning, yet many of us business owners aren't paying heed. According to a global study released by Korn Ferry International, "40% or less of organizations today have a capable CEO-in-waiting." Also, according to a report released by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), four out of ten small to medium-sized business owners intend to retire and exit their businesses within five years....