Who Is Your Replacement?

Who Is Your Replacement?

Who Is Your Replacement?

A while ago I called X and suggested him to start looking for his replacement. "Aren't you happy with my performance?" asked X. "Do you plan to fire me?" I heard his worried voice. "Not at all" I replied. "I want to promote you. How can you be promoted you if you have not groomed your replacement?"

Who is YOUR successor? If you don't have one, you have probably been in the same position for long time. Your chances to get a promotion are better if you have a successor.

How strong should your successor be? The answer is that he/she should bestronger than you!

It is a tough dilemma. Isn't it? After all, it's human nature for us to be afraid that a successful, professional, highly skilled and competent successor will put us in his/her shadow or pass us up altogether. Right?

Wrong!

When we grow into a management position we are no longer individual professionals who are only as good as their technical skills. Leaders are as good as their teams. The stronger their team, the more successful the leaders are.

If we dare to groom a better and stronger successor, it will reflect positively upon us. We will be perceived as confident, successful and brave. A sharp successor will push us out of our comfort zone. He/she will challenge us and reinforce our personal growth.

Years ago, as the Financial Controller of an American listed company, my technical skills were below the benchmark. My adaptive skills compensated for my technical skills. One day, I was interviewing candidates for a position of Accounting Manager. Amar was my first choice. He was a confidant and energetic CPA from a Big Four firm with superior technical, commercial and management skills. I hesitated. This guy was better than me especially considering his youth and work experience.

I hired Amar and my job changed over night. He took over the group accounting. He interacted professionally with our holding company, managed his team well and worked with me on innovative projects. I had a real trailblazer on my team. I never felt threatened even though I knew, as well as anybody else, that Amar was better at the job than me. Our team performance was incredible. In a year we did a corporate split, merger and acquisition. The Chairman and the CEO told me that he felt very comfortable in these endeavors because of the strong finance team. Shortly afterwards, I was promoted to CFO. Amar replaced me as the Financial Controller. A year later, I left the company for an international assignment and Amar replaced me as the CFO. It was a wonderful feeling to leave the legacy of a strong and capable successor. It was not then nor will it be the last time I groom my replacement. It is a proven way to scale the corporate pinnacle.

So who is your successor?

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