succession
02 May 2006
Executive Director Succession Planning: Preparing the Way for Leadership Transitions
Leadership transitions are a fact of life for nonprofit organizations, but boards, staffs, and executive directors often approach them with trepidation—if not all-out avoidance. As the media arts field matures, some of our most experienced staff leaders are nearing retirement age, and a new generation of staff leaders is emerging. Succession planning is a tool that can help develop new staff leaders, ease the departure of long-term executive directors, and strengthen our organizations.
Filling Linda's Shoes
Barely thirty and running an organization that is five years older than me is a perplexing situation. How did I get here? What were the circumstances? As the baby boomer generation begins to hit retirement age, leadership succession is increasingly important for nonprofit organizations.
This is a subject I have been writing on and speaking about for the last few years, as emerging-leader issues have become a fairly hot topic in the arts community. How does the arts field nurture its new talent - both artists and administrators?
