Earlier this month I learned that all executive directors (and this could be extended to board chairs) should have a will.  I thought that only people who wanted to divide their assets after death and taxes needed one of these.  Many of you reading this (come-on, look in the mirror and nod, will 'ya?) should have one of these to spare your organization, its valued stakeholders and the community that you claim you care so much about, from unnecessary pain and suffering due to an unplanned "demise."

OK, I am being overly dramatic but do I have your attention now?  Just type on a sheet of paper your best advice on how the organization should carry on, or at least, who should take over your role temporarily, should you burn-out one weekend and never return to the office or if the United Nations or the U.S. president (or one of those Gates people) calls you to serve them in a moment of crisis.  Just name names:  those people both within and outside of the organization who get the mission, can honor your approach competently and buy the board time to conduct a recruitment process without going into a three alarm panic. 

After you have finished typing this sheet, put it into a sealed envelope in your bottom desk drawer and a copy in your safe deposit box next to your IRS determination letter AND tell a staff member and your board chair that you have done this.  Maybe your board will raise the funds for a real live succession planning and successor mentoring process but then again …..The executive will:  it's a GOOD thing!

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3.22 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."