I recently read The Association CEO Succession Toolkit by Gary A. LaBranche, FASAE, CAE and want to focus on the transition and continuity plan template found in Chapter 13 of the book.
I have written before, in a blog post found HERE, about succession planning and the importance of getting your board involved in creating the necessary documents to follow should a transition happen.
While some chambers may use a search firm to help secure the next CEO most due the search internally and this book is a great guide to follow as you go through that process.
Some key discussion items addressed when facing a transition include:
- Review your strategic value proposition;
- Aligning a new CEO with the board; and
- Ensuring that both the board and CEO are in sync with the new value prop or direction of the chamber.
As stated in the book, there can be many reasons for a transition:
- Leave of absence
- Death of the executive
- Termination
- Retirement
Chapter 13 does a great job of outlining the roles and responsibilities of the board and staff and has a template to use depending on what situation you are dealing with above.
It is a step-by-step guide on who is responsible for the different tasks needed to communicate a transition, not only to your membership but also your staff and community.
To purchase the book go HERE.
