Page 69 - Global Focus, Issue 2, 2018

Seven things to learn about succession in organisations | Emerson de Almeida

In the case of top executives, succession
represents a fundamental event for
the survival of an organisation. It is
a time when everybody’s sensibilities
are at their highest levels...

7. The development of new interests Especially in the case of top executives,
makes detachment easier succession represents a fundamental event for
The more one is attached to a dream, the more the survival of an organisation. It is a time when
difficult it is to accept succession: this seems everybody’s sensibilities are at their highest levels,
to be a rule. Hence the importance of examining and this includes predecessors, successors and
how to detach from the work at the organisation; potential candidates, not to mention supporters
in the case of founders, from their creature. and opponents.
Many people are afraid of being forgotten after Finally, a succession process always involves
resigning as president of an organisation. The both objective and subjective factors. The present
amount of fear depends on each person: some study is intended to help readers broaden their
are routine addicts and tend to fill their agendas understanding of the complexities of succession
with innumerable suffocating activities. For some, processes within organisations.
especially founders of enterprises that enjoy a
certain notability, detachment tends to be even This article was originally published in Portuguese: ALMEIDA,
more afflictive. Emerson de et al. Sete aprendizados sobre sucessão nas
It seems to be easier to create and lead an organizações. DOM: Fundação Dom Cabral’s Magazine,
enterprise to success than to detach from it. It is Nova Lima, v.10, n.30, p.14-19, Aug/Dec 2016.
worth mentioning that, despite the fact that the Translation by: Francisco de Souza Barros
development of new interests is a useful help, each
case requires its own remedy.
Interests may be professional but it is advisable
to go beyond that. Many successful top executives About the Authors
of large organisations decided to dedicate more Emerson de Almeida is Co-founder and President of the Statutory Directorate
time to family, to sports, to reading and to other of Fundação Dom Cabral
hobbies. Cláudia Andrade Botelho is Project Manager at Fundação Dom Cabral, Master’s
Degree in Administration – PUC-Minas
Maria Teresa Roscoe is Associate professor at Fundação Dom Cabral, Master’s
Succession as it really is Degree in Administration – PUC-Minas
In such an attempt to describe the reality of Mozart Pereira dos Santos is Director and professor at Fundação Dom Cabral,
psychologist
the succession process in organisations one Nádia Rampi is Director, Governance and Compliance at Fundação Dom Cabral,
frequently faces several political “games”. This Master’s Degree in Administration – FUMEC.
is natural. Aristotle once said that the “human Samir Lótfi Vaz is Professor and researcher at the International Businesses and
being is a political animal by nature”. Strategy Nucleus of Fundação Dom Cabral, Master’s Degree in Administration
– FEA-USP.
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