20+ SAMPLE Succession Planning

What Is Succession Planning?

Succession planning is the process of identifying the critical positions inside an organization and formulating action plans for deserving individuals to assume these positions of responsibility. It is a business strategy that companies utilize to transfer or pass leadership roles and responsibilities to another employee. The process ensures that businesses can continue to operate smoothly, without interruption and arising risks in circumstances when significant individuals move on to new and better opportunities, retire, or pass away. Succession planning also starts a liquidity event wherein it enables the transfer of ownership in a going concern to these rising employees. It is also a good way for companies to use the procedure in ensuring that the business comes fully prepared in terms of the advancement and promotion of all employees in all departments of the organization. Succession planning is a type of contingency plan for businesses. As such, it needs to undergo reevaluations and reassessments annually since there are changes in the industry and the company itself. There must be an evaluation of skills to identify potential replacements within and outside the organization to make the necessary steps to accommodate the changes.

According to an article by the Harvard Business Review entitled The High Cost of Succession Planning, better succession planning helps with the large-cap of the United States equity market that can add a full point ranging from 4 to 5 percent in annual revenue.

Components of Succession Planning

Succession planning is a business process that selects qualified employees for promotion into high-ranking positions in the organization. Companies often identify and choose these candidates during the early stages of their careers to guarantee that these individuals undergo significant training and development when the time comes for them to assume the position. Many companies have a set succession plan for the executive department, including the position of CEO, CFO, COO, president, or chairman. Other succession plans focus on replacements in positions like head of departments, managerial roles, and other key positions in the organization. There are various components that the company must consider when writing succession plans. The section below covers the necessary components of succession planning with descriptions that provide readers with a better understanding.

Position: The first component of a succession plan lists the positions that the organization needs to fill. Remember that succession plans revolve around identifying the roles that are critical to the daily operations of a business and its ability to function effectively. It lists roles for leadership positions and high-skilled roles.Incumbent: Another section of the succession planning identifies the individual who is currently handling the specific position. In creating a succession plan, the organization must consider whether or not the person currently occupying the post is high-risk. The section also describes the process of how the leadership or ownership of the role transfer from the current individual to a new employee. It covers factors such as transitioning responsibilities, tax planning, and the process of making future decisions. As an example, an older incumbent with several health issues requires a more accelerated succession plan in comparison to someone who is holding a position that is younger and peaks in their physical condition.Candidates: This section of the succession planning identifies individuals with the qualifications and willingness to assume the necessary roles. Succession plans that companies produce identify two or three candidates for each role. In this way, if ever one of the candidates decides to leave the company or find better employment opportunities, the succession planning process will not need to start from the very beginning. Instead, the company utilizes the list of candidates and selects the next candidate to fill the position. It must also identify the various programs and training sessions that the company creates. Readiness criteria: Every succession plan requires a readiness assessment criteria or a rating system that measures how prepared a candidate is for a specific role. A good example is a young and promising yet inexperienced candidate with a huge potential for success who can acquire a readiness rating of more or less five. On the other hand, an older employee who has been with the company for several years while holding multiple leadership roles and responsibilities will have a readiness rating of an eight or higher.Defined goals: This element of succession planning urges the organization to define the end goal of the succession planning process. It must indicate whether the purpose of succession planning is to help increase the level of expertise, learn management skills, etc.Tasks or requirements: The task or requirements section contains a list of all the requirements that are needed to reach the goals and objectives of the company succession plan.Timeline: Another essential component of succession planning is the succession timeline. When the company drafts a succession plan, there are two categories of events that happen, namely when there is a scenario of death or accident or if an employee is retiring. The death or accident plans are applicable for worst-case scenarios with well-structured content before their implementation. Meanwhile, companies can gradually execute retirement succession plans over a longer period with the focus of a predetermined date, set several years forward.Budget: The budget section defines how much the organization expects to spend and the resources it requires that it needs to dedicate to the succession planning process. The budget shapes every piece of the succession planning process.Strategy: The strategy section of the succession plan helps the organization define how it plans to introduce, implement, and measure the results of a succession plan.HR management and culture: Leadership changes in an organization more evidently lead to turnover scenarios. As such, the succession plan must cover or indicate the human resource (HR) strategies that it needs for retaining or recruiting employees that show interest in taking up a new position and role. This also involves building up a new company culture that encourages the staff to develop their skills and talents further with the mindset of being open to the possible changes in the workplace.

Steps To Take In Succession Planning For the Organization

Remember that succession planning is not a one-time task or process for the organization. Instead, it requires continued growth and development for employees. There are different roles and responsibilities that succession planning covers, including project managers, stakeholders, incumbents employees, and potential successors. There are a few steps to follow for companies that are seeking to create a succession planning process for their business. The section below details the different steps to take.

1. Identify the Most Critical and Most Vulnerable Positions

The first step in the succession planning process is to determine and choose the functions that require successors. There are two factors to consider when selecting which positions to prioritize in terms of their vulnerability and criticality. To do this, determine which positions do not have an identifiable successor. These positions are the most vulnerable to significant loss of knowledge. Next, consider the impact that each position has on the mission of the organization and If the vacancy can impact the daily activities and operations of the organization to accomplish the mission. The critical positions often extend the leadership or management positions and include technical or scientific positions. Utilize a matrix that the organization can use to determine the level of vulnerability or criticality. The company can also consider the lack of external candidates available for recruitment.

2. Develop the Eligibility Requirements for Each Position

Once the company identifies all the positions that require a succession plan, the next step is to create an employee profile of the position and the possible performances that the organization expects from its employees. It helps the company to determine the individuals with the experience and skills to take on the role. Write up a profile for the position that requires a successor and initiate a transition planning interview and meet with the incumbent employee to gather more necessary information. Consider different questions when developing the eligibility requirements, including the selection criteria and the essential skills, abilities, and competencies an individual needs.

3. Identify the Talent Pipeline

Using the profile that the organization creates, it can now identify the vital positions that suit the temporary transition processes towards the possible successors when a vacancy arises. The identified positions are also under the qualification to apply for the specific position when there is an announcement. Consider relaying the various succession requirements openly with employees to encourage a culture of transparency, trust, and engagement with the company process. In assessing the successor positions, make sure to identify the duties that align with the two positions, similarities in their roles, functions, and core competencies, and identify possible gaps.

4. Nominate the Successors from the Qualified Positions

The next step in succession planning is identifying qualified candidates that can temporarily fill a vacancy and can apply as the candidates for the position as necessary. Allow leaders and managers to nominate candidates that can go through training and development and invite other employees to also express their interests in the vacancy. Work with leaders to develop a final list of candidates with the job description and performance criteria that makes them eligible for the vacancy. Make it clear to the successors that there is no guarantee of acquiring the position because the selection process relies on the performance of the individual.

5. Develop an Action Plan for Selected Successors

Creating a development plan for the successors of a position helps identify the necessary skills and opportunities for growth. It is vital to ask the incumbent employee to identify different possibilities and opportunities for the successor. Opportunities include a succession development plan with various training and learning activities aligned with the incumbent. Successors can also participate in functional areas, acquire mentoring from the incumbent, receive coaching opportunities, work on special projects and activities, etc.

6. Evaluate the Succession Plan

Perform a thorough evaluation of the succession planning efforts each year, and make sure to continually improve and make necessary changes and improvements to the succession planning strategy that contributes to the effectiveness of the organization. In evaluating the succession plan, consider the bench strength of the organization before and after succession planning, the number of qualified candidates, improvements in employee development, overall organizational performance, and if there is a reduction of risks.


FAQs

What are the three core steps of succession planning?

There are three essential steps to implementing succession planning in the organization.

  • Identify and engage the employees manifesting ideal skills and are open to development
  • Develop and cross-train these individuals
  • Document and record the procedures and processes

What are the different examples of succession planning?

Different industries and organizations implement different forms of succession planning, including:

  • Role identification
  • Job Design
  • Competency Management
  • Career Planning
  • Mentorship and Coaching

What is the goal of succession planning?

The purpose or objective of implementing succession planning in a company is to make sure that the company always has adequate resources and invests in the right leaders if there are changes that happen too quickly.

Succession planning is essential in any industry, business, and organization. Succession planning ensures that different companies have the right individuals to place in key positions in the company when the need arises. The organization must provide the necessary resources for succession planning and place different types of succession planning programs that the employees and management can utilize. When developing succession planning, make sure to have a healthy collaboration with the incumbent individuals, especially when pinpointing skills, competencies, roles, and responsibilities for the position. Begin creating succession plans for the organization by downloading from the 20+ SAMPLE Succession Planning in PDF | MS Word templates from the article above, only from Sample.net.