The dreamers, the fighters, no lying, I’m tired
Succession Planning with Heart: What Founders Need to Know Before Stepping Back
This topic was previously covered in one of my weekly newsletters. To get other timely tips, make sure you’re on the list: www.thejilljames.com/newsletter
In the past 18 months, I’m seeing a lot more business owners considering whether it’s time to move on from a business they’ve built. Maybe the business you thought you wanted to run forever is not challenging you, or you want to try something else. Perhaps someone else wants to take over leadership — an employee or family member.
I focus on healthy growth, and often, that will lead to talk of a healthy path for an exit. But those transitions aren’t my speciality. So I called upon a friend, Andrea Carpenter, President of The Transition Strategists. She and her team specialize in helping founders and families navigate business transitions without losing the relationships that matter most.
Because what I do see from many founders is a genuine concern for finding a healthy transition opportunity. They’ve done incredible work developing their teams and driving results, only to hit a wall when it comes to planning what’s next for the business (and for themselves).
It’s not that they don’t care. It’s that most of the advice out there focuses on numbers and legal structure—not on leadership transitions, relationships, or identity shifts. And even with excellent professional guidance, the details of who’s paying, how much, and when overshadows the succession planning needed for business continuity.
That’s why I wanted to pass along a resource from Andrea and her team. They just released a short, practical guide I think you’ll appreciate:
5 Parts of a Succession Plan That CPAs and Attorneys Often Miss
Inside, you’ll find questions that get to the heart of leadership transitions:
- How do you help successors grow into authority — not just inherit it?
- What vision are you creating for your own next chapter?
- How do you surface emotional dynamics before they sabotage the plan?
Whether you’re years away from transitioning or actively in the weeds, this is one of the clearest tools I’ve seen to help business owners move forward with intention.
If you’re the person stepping back but also want to lead well, this is worth a read. If you’re the person taking over, this guide will help you get inside the mind of your predecessor to set yourself up for a smoother takeover. And if you’re not quite there yet, it’s a great resource to help you consider what questions you’ll need to be ready to answer in the event that you do decide to move toward an exit.
