How Far Are You From The Top Of The Career Ladder?

If we are lucky, we have all been encouraged to 'get on in life' 'have a worthwhile career' 'make sure we can achieve what we want to achieve'. Some of us have been fortunate enough to have access to opportunities and training that have enabled us to grow as individuals and valuable employees.

However, people do move on or retire, and at that time it’s, even more, important to consider what talent you have developed in the business to drive it forward. Ideally with the same verve and vigour as you and your colleagues have had over the years. Succession planning isn’t just for when executives leave; it applies to teams and departments too as if your organisation is expanding, it’s imperative to have an internal talent pool at the ready. Have you analysed how many people in the business are coming up for retirement age over the next five years and do you have a plan to ‘lose’ or replace their posts?

Succession planning is a critical part of people management. It increases the availability of experienced and capable employees. Increasingly I am meeting people who are genuinely integrating their work with those who work around them so that their departure isn’t a shock to the organisation. Ideally, you want your business to move forward without suffering delays in bringing in new talent. Typically, they may take up to six months or more to get their heads around how the place functions, let alone make a valuable contribution to managing it. Such things inevitably have an impact on the short-term success of the business.

Now is always the right time to identify what skills your business needs to survive and thrive and whether you have the right level of those skills available to you or should you be training or recruiting? And remember don’t just concentrate all your efforts on one person, you need to develop a group of talent.

Fortune favours the brave so be brave – so think ahead – whatever rung of the ladder you are on. And if you are at the bottom, let those who manage you know that you are keen to progress. The best person to look after your future is you.