Succession Planning: Prepare Leaders for Tomorrow

Name: Succession Planning: Prepare Leaders for Tomorrow
Rating: 4.1 (70 reviews)

Strengthen leadership continuity through structured succession planning and intentional talent development

Role Play

Created byStephanie Reh

Last updated 4/2026

English

What you'll learn

Identify key roles that require succession planning and evaluate the risk of leadership gaps
Define success profiles and evaluate internal talent for future leadership roles
Apply a structured process to identify and assess potential successors
Design and implement Individual Development Plans (IDPs) that accelerate readiness
Conduct effective development conversations that build ownership and accountability
Build and sustain a leadership pipeline through ongoing development, tracking, and reinforcement

Course content

6 sections • 23 lectures • 1h 22m total length

Welcome0:46
Welcome message from the Accountability Evangelist
Why Succession Planning is Important1:37
Learn why succession planning is so important to an organization's future sustainability.
What You'll Learn In This Course0:50
This is a brief overview of what you'll be learning in this course.
Succession Planning Process Overview1:13
At a high level, this quick lecture explains the 2-step process involved in succession planning.
Introduction FAQs2:49
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the Introduction section. Upon finishing this section, complete the Succession Planning Reflection worksheet. A completed example is provided for your reference.

Job Profile worksheet overview4:09
A narrated walkthrough of the Job Profile worksheet and how to complete it.
Succession Planning worksheet overview2:37
A narrated walkthrough of the Succession Plan Worksheet and how to complete it.
Succession Plan FAQs2:55
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the Succession Plan section. Upon finishing this section, complete the Succession Planning worksheet. A completed example is provided for your reference.

Individual Development Plan worksheet overview3:30
A narrated walkthrough of the Individual Development Plan Worksheet and how to complete it.
Individual Development Plan FAQs5:06
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the Individual Development Plan section. Upon finishing this section, complete the Individual Development Plan worksheet. A completed example is provided for your reference.
Maintaining Focus on IDPs5:57
Prompt employees to engage in the IDP process on a regular basis, twice yearly.
Option to Implement IDPs independent of Succession Planning2:15
The IDP process can be implemented on its own, not necessarily tied directly to Succession Planning.
Facilitating IDP Discussions12:48
An outline of how to facilitate the discussion that will lead to the completion of the employee's initial IDP.
Facilitating the IDP Discussion - Strengths & Developmental Areas
Facilitating the IDP Discussion - Career Aspirations
Facilitating the IDP Discussion - Action Plan

Emerging Leaders Program2:50
An overview of the key elements and considerations for an Emerging Leaders Program.
Ascending Leaders Program1:35
An overview of the key elements and considerations for an Ascending Leaders Program.
Leadership Program Comparison2:32
A side-by-side comparison of the key features of Emerging Leaders Program and the Ascending Leaders Program.
Keeping It Fresh1:19
Tips on how to keep the internal leadership development programs current, relevant, and celebrated.

Transparency & Courage1:57
Best practices for communicating to employees about their successor status.
Communication Scenarios7:26
A review of five different typical scenarios you might face, along with the corresponding recommended communication sequence you should follow before speaking to the employees listed on your succession plan.
Data & Reporting4:19
An explanation of the Leadership Succession Chart, which you can use for tracking and communicating to the Board of Directors. The lecture also includes suggestions for where to store succession planning data.
Example Process in Action6:20
Reviewing all the completed example worksheets presented in the course, this lecture ties all the previous concepts and steps together, so you can visualize how the process works from start to finish.
Communication & Implementation FAQs6:11
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the Communication & Implementation section. Upon finishing this section, complete the Succession Planning Communication Flow worksheet. A completed example is provided for your reference.

Requirements

There are no formal prerequisites for this course.
To get the most value, you should be willing to take ownership of developing future leaders, commit to building talent intentionally, and be open to applying a structured approach to succession planning and development.
Ideally, you will have completed the other courses in my Leadership Academy Series, as they provide a strong foundation of skills that will be very useful as you embark on the Succession Planning journey.

Description

Why do so many organizations struggle when key leaders leave?

Because leadership continuity isn’t built in the moment—it’s built over time, through intentional development and disciplined execution.

This course is a practical, real-world guide to succession planning that goes beyond identifying names on a list. It focuses on what leaders must do to build a sustainable leadership pipeline—so the organization is prepared for the future, not reacting to it.

At its core, succession planning is about accountability and risk management. As emphasized throughout the course, the greatest risk to any organization is ineffective leadership—and without a clear plan, leadership continuity is left to chance.

You’ll learn how to approach succession planning as an ongoing leadership responsibility, not a one-time exercise. Using structured tools and practical examples, this course shows you how to:

Identify critical roles and assess the risk associated with leadership gaps
Evaluate internal talent and determine who may be ready now, ready soon, or ready with development
Build succession plans that provide visibility into leadership depth and future readiness
Design and implement Individual Development Plans (IDPs) that translate potential into capability

A key focus of the course is execution. Succession plans alone are not enough—development is what drives readiness. As highlighted in the materials, succession planning without Individual Development Plans is planning without execution, and readiness will be compromised.

You’ll also learn how to:

Conduct meaningful IDP conversations that align development with career aspirations and organizational needs
Hug (*Accountability Evangelist concept*) individuals accountable for their development while providing support and guidance
Create internal leadership development programs to expand and strengthen your talent pipeline
Maintain and update succession plans and development efforts over time

Throughout the course, the emphasis remains on one core principle:

Developing future leaders is not optional—it is a fundamental leadership responsibility.

Through practical application and reflection, you’ll gain the structure, tools, and confidence to build a leadership pipeline that is intentional, visible, and sustainable.

Succession planning isn’t about replacing roles—it’s about building the next generation of leaders before you need them.
This course will help you create a sustainable leadership pipeline—so your organization is prepared for the future, not reacting to it.

Who this course is for:

Leaders responsible for building and sustaining a strong leadership pipeline
Executives and senior leaders planning for future organizational stability and growth
Managers identifying and developing potential successors within their teams
Organizations looking to move from informal or reactive succession planning to a structured, proactive approach
HR and business partners supporting succession planning and leadership development efforts

Succession Planning: Prepare Leaders for Tomorrow

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction5 lectures • 7min

The Succession Plan3 lectures • 10min

The Individual Development Plan8 lectures • 30min

Internal Leadership Development Programs4 lectures • 8min

Communication & Implementation5 lectures • 26min

Ready, Set, Go!1 lecture • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: