Table for Two
Table for Two: Can Founders & Sucessors Co-Exist So Everyone Wins?by Mark LeachDoes your organization have a
founder who still has a lot to give but need
new executive leadership? Are you wondering if founders and their successors can co-exist for the overall benefit of the organization? |
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Just Released! The Nonprofit Quarterly's exclusive article on Table for Two!
Conventional Wisdom Says: To not undermine a new leader's authority--and to allow the organization to develop in new ways--the founder must leave the organization completely when they step down from the top leadership position.
Table for Two's Findings Say: While not for most organizations, there are conditions under which a founder and successor can co-exist - maximizing the founder's assets for the overall good of the organization and reinforcing one another's success in their new roles.
What Table for Two Provides:
Based on in-depth analysis of six cases in which the founder or long term founder-like leader successfully remains after stepping down from the top post, Table for Two provides:
- A new model for leadership transitions.
- A broader range of options for the founder's continuing role and contributions.
- Insights into the personal and organizational factors needed for success in such transitions.
- An
integrated approach to weighing and managing
the risks and benefits
involved.
- Challenges, coping strategies, and recommendations for founders, successors, boards of directors, and staff.
- Recommendations for funders who wish to support their grantees' executive transitions.
Wondering if this could be possible for your organization?
Consider if your organization, founder, and successor have the characteristics that make it possible for a founder and new leader to successfully co-exist.
The OrganizationDoes the organization have the
characteristics necessary -- including an
organizational imperative -- to make it worth
the additional time and effort? |
The FounderIs the founder prepared to deal with
the inevitable loss of centrality, importance
and positional power that comes with stepping
down yet staying on? |
The SuccessorDoes the successor have what it
takes to fully assume the authority of his role
when the founder is still involved? |