As an employer looking to fill a role, whether newly created or recently vacated, it is critical that you look within your existing teams. From Beatrice Bartlay, entrepreneur, author and business & life performance coach.
Business leaders should constantly be thinking about the future. Planning ahead is an essential part of running a business, unfortunately, many businesses fail to look so far ahead when so much is happening in the here and now. succession planning doesn’t have to be a hastily thrown together concept for organisations. Beatrice, who has helped hundreds of clients build their managements teams through her talks says:
What some companies still don’t understand is that people are the key to a successful business, and by developing these people through succession planning, their company can increase productivity and therefore, profits. The Gold Winning Team can only be achieved when business leaders draw focus towards their employees, this in turn, will keep them motivated.”
The top reasons for succession planning
Succession planning brings the organisation together
Companies that have strong interdepartmental relationships will find themselves in a better position than companies who don’t experience such synergy. For example, creating the businesses succession plan with your HR department will allow you to gain a second perspective on which employees are the most productive and the most deserving of career progression.
It helps business leaders to see the bigger picture
A common mistake that high-level executives make is that succession planning should only be used for SMEs. Effective planning involves looking at the entire hierarchy, after all, the employees at the lower rungs are the ones who help the business run every day. Including these employees into your plans will allow you to manage on all levels of your business.
Company morale is boosted
A succession plan can mark a big shift in company dynamics, and change is exciting. The prospect of career progression will incentivise employees to work harder and maintain a high company morale and secure loyalty to the company. Looking to the future helps all staff within the company visualise a goal and cooperatively work towards it.
Planning is beneficial even before it’s implemented
The process of creating a succession plan should involve multiple perspectives. Through these perspectives, leaders are able to identify who within the business is destined to ascend the career ladder, and can act accordingly. Being able to identify upcoming talent will help to build a strengthened team.
Staff have a platform to express feelings
Sharing succession planning allows SMEs to reflect their needs for their career and the business. Again, morale is boosted through this method, as it places a degree of company accountability with members of staff who assist you with succession planning. As a business leader, your high-level executives are there to assist you, the burden of effective planning should not solely rest on your shoulders.
Succession planning can prepare you for the worst
There are always going to be uncertainties in business. An early retirement, economic disaster, unforeseen illness, these are all relevant instances in which a succession plan is crucial. When any of these issues occur, a strong plan will help protect the business.
