Sundaymail Editor
Changing Perspectives
Rutendo Gwatidzo
LET’s do this! Close your eyes after reading this paragraph. What do you see?
Whether you are an employer, a businessperson, an employee, a student or a housewife, where do you see yourself in the next 10 to 20 years?
Succession planning
I would like us to talk about succession planning, which is the process of developing someone else to take your place. Yes, it sounds weird; however, we need to understand that we all reach a limit in one way or the other. You may get old and get limited in terms of what your body can do. You may exhaust all your ideas and skills, and due to factors such as an ever-changing environment and technology, there might be need to bring in new blood to ensure continuity.
In other words, succession planning is a strategy for replacement.
Hard truth
Here is one hard truth that we should all face: We all get replaced at one point or another, either willingly or unwilling; intentionally or unintentionally.
It is, therefore, better to prepare for that day so that it happens in a way that brings joy, honour and fulfilment.
One of the most fulfilling things to do in life is to prepare someone else to seamlessly take over, having groomed that person to be a better version of who you are.
Sadly, most of us see successors as competitors and enemies. When properly done, succession planning brings better results. The successor should complement rather than compete.
It is interesting how most of us want to be leaders yet we are not interested in grooming upcoming leaders.
Succession planning gives surety of a prosperous future.
Have you ever thought of what is going to happen to your office when you are no longer there? If you find your office collapsing just because you are no longer there, then know you are not a good leader.
A good leader is followed by even better leaders who take things to another level.
I have come across entrepreneurs who think there is no need for succession planning because they are running their own businesses.
Have you ever thought about what will happen if you get injured or die?
Would you want the business to die with you?
All I am simply saying is that it is never too early to start grooming someone else.
If you are a manager, the moment you get that position, begin to groom someone else to perform even better than you.
Even if in future that person does better than you and gets promoted, take pride in knowing you are the one who contributed to their growth.
Creating a legacy
Crafting a lasting legacy means you start planning and making it possible now.
Succession planning is not a one-day process, it needs to be gradual and thoughtful, with lots of information, knowledge and perspective.
It has to happen without you even realising it. Most of us want recognition and enjoy being considered as the only ones who can do a particular task.
Guess what? That is simply poor planning and poor leadership.
Every organisation requires succession planning, be it the corporate world, family setups or even church.
Leadership should be based on aspiration not domination. Allow others the chance to succeed.
Do not train people only to lose them, because there is no growth or room for growth in that. If an organisation is great because of one person, then it is not great at all; it is actually at risk.
Good leadership is about passing on potential to others to become great.
Success is about producing more leaders than followers. Your office is not great if it cannot do well without you.
Avoid this burden
No burden is so heavy to bear as that of dying knowing that everything else you built in your entire life is going to die with you. Plan for the afterlife and what happens to the next generation when you are gone. See beyond yourself and begin to plan and act now, if you hadn’t started.
Be challenged to think about your third and fourth generation, and create something for them now.
Be encouraged to start from whatever position you find yourself in right now.
Be inspired that if others did it, then you can also do it.
What is it that your grandchildren will remember you for?
Get up now and begin to impact their lives now.
Rutendo Gwatidzo is a culture change strategist. She has over 10 years’ experience operating as an HR consultant focusing on training and change management. She’s also a speaker, a mentor and author of the book “Born To Fight”. Contact — 0714575805/ [email protected]/Rutendo Gwatidzo official fb public page.
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