What if…your executive coach helped you to engineer the next four years of your life? Part 2

In my last post I asked you where you want to be in four years’ time; whether you are ready to make the transition to a new role, freeing up your time to try new challenges and experiences.

Let’s assume you feel you are ready, and you have the requisite management team in place. As a leadership coach and mentor I know how carefully the next steps need to be planned and implemented in order for your transition to be successful. 

Have you got a succession and development plan?  

A crucial question: how to effect the transition? 

• What are the transition steps? How will you gradually hand over the reins of control?
• Should you bring in an executive coach to help both you and your successor work through the process?  Don’t forget there is a lot of emotional baggage tied up with this change.
• What’s the timetable? What are the key milestones?
• What are the steps you are gong to take, and when, to cut down your working week to less than eight hours? 

What about your family and friends? 

Even such a simple transition as becoming company chairman will affect the people around you.  You need to be able to honestly and objectively answer the following: 

• What do your partner and family think of the idea and how will it impact on them? 
• Hobbies and activities will not fulfil you as effectively; how will you identify activities to keep you mentally stimulated and alert?
• How do you feel about getting involved in local community, education and or charity projects and programmes?  

Keep people around you who give more energy than you give. Consider joining organisations like the Wealth Enhancement Forum www.thewealthenhancementforum.com  where you interact with people just like you who will help you address the issues that this career transition generates. 

The last word comes from one wife, on hearing that her CEO husband was going to make himself chairman: ”I married you for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, but not for 24×7.” There was clearly some talking still to be done there. 

If you would like to learn more about making the transition from CEO and owner operator or would like to be a member of the What If Business Coaching and Mentoring Programme you can email me at richard.bosworth@whatifspecialist.com.  You can also follow @richardwhatif on Twitter and find me on LinkedIn under Richard Bosworth.