October is one of my favorite months. We get a taste of fall with unexpected chilly mornings and I start wearing flannel (and stop sweating on a short walk from the grocery store exit to my car).
When I was a kid, we didn’t have the pumpkins available now – the heirloom types with warts and in a variety of shapes. I love them. They are so unique. Carving a pumpkin is such a nostalgic thing for me, but I only carve the traditional bright orange, semi-round ones. I just don’t have the heart to carve the heirloom ones. Like I would be destroying art.
Being an empty nester now, we don’t have the same level of enthusiasm for “all things Halloween” that we used to with kids around. I did, however, pull out themed napkins and hang a skeleton on our front porch. Halloween has always been one of my favorite celebrations, not because of the candy or spooky things but because of the fantasy and playfulness it encourages.
As many of my work colleagues know, we’ve had fun at the office with costume contests and creepy food offerings. Now, approaching 60 – ok, I said it – there’s another scary thing in my head and it’s there all year long, not just at Halloween: Succession.
What’s the plan for when it’s time for me to leave? How do I leave? Can I sort of leave? Now that’s some scary stuff! I’m about three years into a ten-year succession plan, which means we’ve been talking about it and planning.
The first phase was identifying the people who both have the desire and the experience to lead; we have that. Then comes the work of identifying what responsibilities I have that I need to delegate; that’s a bit harder. When I delegate something, does it mean I no longer have value? The receivers of the delegation are…it’s Halloween month, so I’m going to use more scary language…killing it. They take on new responsibilities with enthusiasm. Yet, I sometimes feel like I’m wearing a CEO mask that could come off and reveal that behind it is a self-doubting human who really wants to get the succession stuff right.
I’ll report back as I make progress and time passes, but my next step is journaling about the sweet side of succession. What’s my treat? How can I get tricked? Considering both, IMO, will be key to being excited not frightened.
– Becky Sharpe, CEO
