Leadership Transition
When leaders retire or move on to new opportunities, nonprofits face leadership transitions. Effective succession planning ensures continuity and maintains organizational momentum. New leaders bring fresh perspectives, but they must also honor the organization’s mission and values, so succession planning can make a huge difference in the success of a new phase.
Succession Planning to Lead for the Future
At Eagle Ranch, the founder announced his retirement ten years ago. The board, along with the organization’s leadership, assembled and then created and implemented a plan that included how to honor the outgoing founder’s steadfast leadership; seek new leadership, internally or externally; and build in a time for healthy collaboration between the departing and arriving leaders so this shift could take place in the best possible way. In retrospect, the process was, as one staff member put it, “…bathed in the Lord and bathed in our culture and trust…” Now, working with its new leader, Eagle Ranch’s leadership feels prepared to meet the future with purpose.
I think some of the hardest change is change that is caused by influences outside of your control… And so we’re having to change internally…[because outside forces] can be some of the more challenging aspects of change.
Wayne Racz
Epworth by the Sea
