Its a familiar pattern: a coalition’s Executive Director resigns, the board of directors appoints an interim director, and shortly thereafter they release a job announcement. At a basic level, these steps are all important in an agency’s transition process. When an organization takes time to think through each of these steps in detail and plan for the agency’s specific needs during the transition phase, the board and staff will reap many benefits for the long-term health and stability of the organization.
The following article presents a recommended series of evaluative steps to be used by organizations preparing for significant leadership transitions which will help guide them into their futures successfully.