Description

Leaders can’t or don’t always want to stay with a company forever. Sometimes, fresh blood makes sense. But how do you make the transition from one leader to another? Find out in Episode 29 of the Faithful on the Clock podcast. 

Timestamps:

[00:04] - Intro

[00:32] - Why changes in leadership are necessary

[01:18] - Moses was a phenomenal leader but made an error and didn’t trust God enough

[02:08] - Moses was proactive about finding a successor

[02:47] - Don’t bury your head in the sand about the need for a leadership change

[03:27] - Make your choice of a successor clear 

[03:59] - Get the old and new leader on the same page and have the board prevent duality

[04:48] - Clarify the limits for the old leader in terms of roles they’ll have after the transition

[05:51] - Clarify the transition timeline

[06:04] - Changes in leadership can be difficult not because of a poor leader choice, but because of loyalty to the old leader

[07:09] - The concepts of transparency, time to adjust, avoiding infighting, etc. are applicable at all levels when a leadership change happens.

[07:32] - Prayer

[08:24] - Outro/What’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• Changes in leadership can be necessary both because of poor performance or just because the company has scaled and needs someone with skills the current leader doesn’t have.
• Moses is an example of leadership transition in the way he acknowledged his leadership limit, was proactive about finding a successor, and made the vote of confidence visible to the public. 
• The company has to see the new leader and old leader operating on the same page if the transition is going to be successful. The board can take an active role in ensuring that there is no infighting. 
• Old leaders need clearly defined new roles and boundaries.
• Transparency about the transition timeline will help people logistically and mentally prepare.
• Resistance to a change in leadership can signal loyalty to the old leader, rather than that the new leader is a poor choice.
• You can approach changes to leadership with the same tips regardless of the leadership level involved.

Relevant Links:

CTAs:

• Take steps to let everyone in your company see the new and old leader working together under a joint vision.
• Engage your board to assist with keeping the leadership transition smooth. 
• Clarify the responsibilities the new and old leaders will have through and after the transition so people know when it’s appropriate to go to each person.

What’s coming up next:

More and more people are leaving their jobs, leading to staffing shortages across industries. Why are people leaving, what does the mass resignation mean for the future of business, and how should Christian leaders respond? That’s up next week in Episode 30 of the Faithful on the Clock podcast.