Consultation · Leadership Transition & Continuity
Leadership transition consultation: preparing succession before the deadline
The leadership transition consultation prepares the succession of an executive, whether the departure is planned or unplanned. It takes place as a 60-minute videoconference or takes the form of a written note. The deliverable establishes the state of preparedness, the critical points and the handover timetable. As for the time frame, the note is delivered 5 working days after receipt of complete information. The videoconference slot, for its part, falls at least 7 days after booking (priority slot possible within 5 working days), Tuesday to Thursday.
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Languages: French
Note: 5 working days after receipt of complete information; videoconference: slot set at least 7 days after booking (priority slot within 5 working days, without right of withdrawal), Tuesday to Thursday
Formats: Written note; Video conference 60 min
Situations relevant to a leadership transition consultation
- A founding executive is preparing to step down, while the succession remains open.
- A family business is anticipating the renewal of its management.
- A board of directors must organise continuity after an unplanned departure.
- An institution is renewing its management and ensures the continuity of decisions already under way.
- Key relationships and knowledge rest on a single person, with no handover arrangement.
Process
- The collection of context first covers the deadline, the potential successors and the organisation. The client transmits this information asynchronously, through the secure area.
- Next, ASKonsult reviews the state of preparedness using Checklist P-20. This review positions the progress of the succession in relation to the envisaged deadline.
- The analysis then identifies the knowledge, relationships and decisions to be passed on. It thus distinguishes what rests on the executive from what already falls within the organisation.
- Guidance then covers the timetable and the handover arrangement. It aligns the stages of the succession with the deadline adopted.
- Finally, the debrief takes place as a synchronous 60-minute videoconference or takes the form of a written note, transmitted asynchronously.
Deliverable
The deliverable takes the form of a session record, by videoconference, or a guidance note. It first establishes the state of preparedness for the transition. It then flags the critical points, notably the knowledge, relationships and decisions exposed by the executive’s departure. Finally, it proposes a handover timetable aligned with the deadline. The note is delivered 5 working days after receipt of complete information. Before any delivery, ASKonsult submits the document to a final review.
Prerequisites
The leadership transition consultation relies on the organisation chart of the structure. It also requires a description of the functions performed by the executive. The envisaged deadline supplements these items and serves as a reference point for the timetable. The client transmits these documents through the secure area and is responsible for their accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Should the videoconference or the note be preferred?
The 60-minute videoconference favours direct exchange on a subject that involves the executive personally. It gives rise to a session record. The guidance note, by contrast, provides a written medium, useful for informing a board of directors or partners. In both cases, the content covers the state of preparedness, the critical points and the handover timetable.
Within what time frame does the consultation take place?
The note is delivered 5 working days after receipt of complete information. For the videoconference, the slot falls at least 7 days after booking (priority slot possible within 5 working days) after receipt of the information, Tuesday to Thursday. These time frames remain indicative and run from receipt of a complete file. In addition, an admissibility check precedes any commitment, in order to rule out requests outside the scope.
When should reflection on succession begin?
Succession is prepared before the deadline. An executive’s departure, whether planned or unplanned, indeed puts at stake the continuity of decisions, relationships and knowledge. An early review thus leaves time to organise their handover. This is why the leadership transition consultation benefits from taking place as soon as the deadline takes shape.
What role does the interactive assistance play?
An interactive assistance tool (IA-04) may support the completion of Checklist P-20 and Kit P-05. It explains the sections, clarifies what is expected and checks the completeness of the answers. However, the assistance issues no opinion and makes no recommendation. The analysis and the deliverable are the responsibility of ASKonsult, after human review and validation.
How does ASKonsult handle the information transmitted?
Information relating to a leadership transition often touches on sensitive matters. ASKonsult treats it as confidential, like all documents transmitted by the client. Exchanges take place exclusively through the secure area and serve solely the purposes of the consultation. Moreover, this obligation survives the end of the relationship.
What is the scope of the deliverable?
The deliverable informs the decision without replacing it. The consultation is indeed subject to a obligation of means and carries no guarantee of results. The client remains the sole decision-maker regarding the follow-up. In addition, the client uses the deliverable for its own needs, while ASKonsult retains ownership of its methods and know-how.
What follow-up after the consultation?
When the handover calls for structured work, the Leadership transition plan package (K-13) takes over. When the need becomes recurring, the Executive subscription (A-03) offers regular support. In addition, the brand protection consultation (C-15) and the shareholder governance consultation (C-16) address related subjects. The leadership transition consultation may also conclude the process.
Out of scope
The consultation does not cover the recruitment of the successor. It also excludes business valuation and capital transactions. In addition, supporting the executive over time is not part of this format. The consultation thus focuses on the state of preparedness, the critical points and guidance on the handover.
- Prepared by ASKonsult
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