What is Succession Planning?

Winter League

Last week we circulated copy of the agenda and papers for the Management Committee meeting held on Thursday 5 March. The observant ones amongst you may have noted the short agenda item of 'Succession Planning' included in that listing and maybe wondered what that alluded to.

At the meeting Chairman, Richard Long, introduced this item by outlining some of the discussions of the four League Officials have held on a longer term view of what the future may hold for the Winter League and what the structure and individuals will be need to be to support that developing model. In particular they looked at the positions of the League Officials over the next 2-3 years.

Currently there are four League Officials, they being the Chairman, League Secretary, Treasurer and Competition Secretary. It is imperative that there is an adequate support structure in place to manage the future growth of the League. An adequate support structure is key to the long term well-being of the League. During the Winter League playing season up to Christmas there are league matches 4-days-a-week. After Christmas that increases to 5-days-a-week with league matches Monday through to Thursday and then a series of Pairs KO qualifying matches on 11 Fridays.

This number is expected to increase again next season so increasing the demands on the time of the League Officials. Don't get me wrong, we thrive on these demands, but we also know that we need to be aware of our capabilities for the future and ensure that the structure and manning is in place to deliver that changing level of support.

We looked at each of the League Official roles and agreed that we need to need to identify potential successors for each of the four roles. That is most pressing for the role of the League Secretary as I will be 80 next year (this is where you interrupt me by saying 'NEVER!') and although I have no plans to stand down at all yet there will come a time.

This is all about Succession Planning for all the key roles. This then allows the identified successors time to learn what is involved in the role, sit alongside the present post holder and ask as many daft questions as they like. Probably sharing out the workload during the interim period and eventually taking over the role in its entirety but having the support and backup of the present incumbent.

This leads us to a model of introduction which we believe offers the greatest chance of success whilst providing a structured introduction to the role and minimises the risk to the League itself. That model currently looks something like this:

Stage 1: Identifying and recruiting a replacement

Stage 2: Training, knowledge and experience transfer

Stage 3: Sharing the workload

Stage 4: Formal takeover by the new team member but supported by previous postholder.

Some of this work has already started with two successors already identified and accepting that they will move into these roles at a time to be agreed. The posts currently covered being that of the League Secretary and the Treasurer and work has begun on preparing the long-term successors in moving towards Stage 2.

We are also talking to another good candidate for the position of Competition Secretary but other commitments mean that this cannot be progressed until later in this calendar year. That just leaves the position of Chairman but with Richard Long having just completed his first year in post it is hoped that there is no rush to push a successor forward at this time' It is good practice to have a potential successor lined up for all the League Official posts to ensure that those responsibilities do not fall on other members unexpectedly. With that in mind if anyone is interested in learning more about any of these roles then please contact us now.

We believe that all this work will protect the future of the League in the best possible way and ease any future changes in personnel and circumstances.