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Succession Planning: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

By Cindy Radu
Published: October 5, 2016 | Last updated: March 21, 2024
Key Takeaways

Succession of your business ownership is a process rather than a single event. Here are some good and bad (and ugly) ways to prepare for this often once-in-a-lifetime transition.

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These are three stories we frequently hear about family business succession. Can you guess which one we hear the most?

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Take One

The Good

The Joyeux Family has invested a lot of time, effort and attention in the orderly transition of their business from one generation to the other. The founders are enjoying a very happy sojourn away from the family business, living off their dividends. The successors have stimulated growth while continuing the founders’ momentum. Everything is booming: the business, the family and the individuals within the family.

The Bad

Pierre Malcontent founded his family business more than 50 years ago, driving it from a simple home-based business to a nationally-respected manufacturer. Pierre had his fingers in everything. His creative touch drove sales while his manufacturing intuition provided valuable solutions to clients’ needs. He always intended to pass on the business to his children, but never quite got around to the details. Unfortunately, Pierre passed away last Thursday and the three children are caught in a dilemma, and not quite ready to take over.

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The Ugly

John Strong has been a great buddy of Pierre’s. He and his wife, Mary, just love their business. Years ago they asked the children to take over so they could enjoy their retirement. After all, they didn’t want to end up like Pierre. They still hold the bulk of the common shares and return every two weeks from their vacation hideaway. They love to attend the board meetings, giving their input on how the business ought to be run, then take off on their next vacation destination.

If you guessed “The Bad” story, you would be right. It is the most common. Which story best reflects your business?

Succession is a Process

What is succession? How do we know when it has happened and what are the signs it has occurred successfully? It is much more than a transfer of ownership or promotion of someone to senior management. Business owners should dedicate time and proactive effort to the transition of things such as knowledge, wisdom, capability, confidence, relationships, family and business values, passion, purpose and professionalism. With all these factors in play, how does a family ensure a gradual, well-structured succession plan?

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Succession is a process rather than an event. It happens as “control” and “decision-making authority” are transferred to a successor. The entire process is predicated on one significant factor: the founder or current leader has the desire and recognizes the need to move on. It also assumes they have confidence in an identified person to succeed them.

This can be done in many ways and the chosen methodology will have a profound influence on the ultimate sustainability of the enterprise.

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Take Two

The Good

We believe that a measured, gradual and defined transition is the best means to transfer control and decision making. It is an effective way to have a successful and seamless transition. One option below allows for the inclusion of a non-family CEO. There are often cases where the founder is ready to exit, but the next generation successor is not yet prepared or qualified to take over.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Bad

Lengthy delays will both frustrate and undermine succession, with a possible risk of damaging the long-term business success. The senior generation, unwilling to let go and unable to train and prepare the successor, hangs on until a time when it may be too late. The so-called “cold turkey” transition is most often a result of poor planning and the unexpected exit of the founder. Clearly, no time is spent preparing either the founder, the successor, the family or the business for post-transition life.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Ugly

On again, off again is hard on the business and very damaging to family relationships. What’s worse, when the business owner finally exits, whether by choice or not, the business, the successor(s) and the family have not been given the opportunity to learn or to thrive without the senior generation.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

* Graphics adapted from The Family Business Advisor

Proper succession is all about the orderly transfer of control and authority to a trusted successor trained to make decisions about strategy, capital expenditures, operations, marketing and other factors critical to business operations.

Founders or senior family leaders should be proactively involved in directing and helping their next generation learn through planned training, delegation with responsibility and the sharing of their experience. It’s not too late and you can start this process today.

This article was written in collaboration with Jeff Noble, director of business transitions services in the BDO Special Advisory Services Group. A highly trusted advisor with many years of facilitation and coaching experience, he helps business families, private companies and leading not-for-profit organizations effectively deal with the transition from one stage of their business life cycle to the next.

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Written by Cindy Radu

Cindy Radu
As a designated Family Enterprise Advisor, Cindy helps individuals, family enterprises, business owners and family offices navigate the complexities and opportunities that come with wealth. Cindy draws on over 25 years of legal, fiduciary, trust and governance experience in professional services firms, financial institutions and family offices in her practice. She uses her skills to provide an objective perspective and facilitate understanding of how complex family, business and ownership structures can impact family dynamics and family wealth continuity.

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