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  • 1.  Need Leadership Transition Advice

    Posted 12-03-2024 01:16 PM

    I just found out that our EVP is leaving in 2 weeks. We've never had an executive transition in our development department. 

    What information, reports, etc. have you created to help onboard new executives when they come on board to help their transition be smooth?



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    Ashley Holder
    Scouting America
    ashley.holder@scouting.org
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  • 2.  RE: Need Leadership Transition Advice

    Posted 12-03-2024 01:30 PM
    I first do two things:
    • Ask the outgoing EVP what reports or tools they found most useful to them and the Board.
    • Wait until you know who the incoming EVP is. Then, contact the previous head of Development and ask them what their former leader found most useful.
    I do not spend a ton of time trying to guess what the new leader wants. I want them to have in their toolkit the key elements you already have:
    • Annual Performance Summary from the previous year
    • The Operational Goals for the coming year
    • The current strategic plan
    • The current quarterly Board report
    • Any current campaign reports (if you are in one)
    • The current YTD fundraising report
    That's more than enough to bring the new EVP up to speed. However, if none of these documents reflect current weaknesses, challenges, or personnel issues, you should prepare a brief one-pager. You are not helping anyone by hiding blemishes!

    Please feel free to contact me off-line if you want to chat further!

    John

    John H. Taylor, Principal
    John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC
    2604 Sevier Street
    Durham, NC     27705

    919.816.5903 (cell/text)

    Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Need Leadership Transition Advice

    Posted 12-03-2024 03:08 PM
    Will the EVP be preparing a transition memo? Having a substantive exit interview that can be recorded? 


    Thank you,
    Isaac Shalev
    Data Strategy Expert
    Sage70, Inc.
    (917) 859-0151
    isaac@sage70.com

    Schedule a 30-minute consultation now:




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Need Leadership Transition Advice

    Posted 12-05-2024 12:23 PM

    Hi Ashley....

    I've been through several of these and I agree that it is difficult to anticipate what a new leader will want.  My experience has been that a whole new set of prospect reports may be needed, metrics, etc. and that really requires input from the leader him/herself.  

    I've also found that development staff will begin to anticipate what the new leader will want; resulting in a flurry of incoming requests.  It may help to meet with your head of the development officers to recommend some standard reports to produce (or hopefully, existing ones you can provide).

    I'd also suggest reaching out to your peer at the institution from which the new EVP is currently presiding - this person can provide helpful information on how to effectively work with your new leader.  

    All the best!

    Terry Callaghan

    Zuri Group



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    Terry Callaghan
    Zuri Group
    terry@zurigroup.com
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    Original Message


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