When a senior role becomes vacant, organisations often discover their apparent depth of talent was assumption, not evidence. This piece explores why succession planning frequently confuses current performance with future readiness, and what leaders can do to build genuine leadership capability before the vacancy exists.

If you are a new manager, or responsible for developing one, it is worth being honest early. Where is the friction? What conversations feel harder than they should? What habits from the old role are now getting in the way? If you are a new manager, or responsible for developing one, it is worth being honest early. Where is the friction? What conversations feel harder than they should? What habits from the old role are now getting in the way?