Part I: What Is a Succession Plan, and Why Do You Need One? 5

Chapter 1: Sowing the Seeds for Long-Term Success 7

Chapter 2: Why Succession Planning Matters 19

Chapter 3: Pinpointing the Right Type of Plan for Your Organization 33

Part II: Creating a Plan and Putting It into Action 47

Chapter 4: Preparing the Plan: Six Steps to Success(ion) 49

Chapter 5: Implementing the Plan 67

Chapter 6: Evaluating the Plan’s Implementation 81

Chapter 7: Overcoming Obstacles in Implementing Your Plan 95

Part III: Diving Deeper into Succession Planning 113

Chapter 8: Covering Key Positions in Your Succession Plan 115

Chapter 9: Figuring Out What You Need in a Successor 129

Chapter 10: Identifying and Developing Successors within Your Organization 147

Chapter 11: Aiming for a Smooth Transition 163

Part IV: Keeping the Succession Ball Rolling 181

Chapter 12: Making Great Exits 183

Chapter 13: Maintaining Your Plan in Today's Changing Workplace 195

Part V: The Part of Tens 213

Chapter 14: Ten Mistakes That Sabotage Succession Plans 215

Chapter 15: Ten Ways to Keep Your Succession Plan Alive 223

Index 231