Are you someone who wants to be successful—in your family, your career, or in every area of your life?
I've been there.
"A leader's lasting value is measured by succession." — John C. Maxwell
In whatever aspect of your life, may it be in your family, career, or business, you are born to lead. As what Myles Monroe has said, “You are born to lead, but you must become a leader. Leaders are not born, they are developed.” Whatever you may be handling or managing, it’s never too early for succession planning. As defined, succession planning is a strategic process that organizations utilize to recognize and develop individuals within the organization who have the potential to fill key leadership positions in the future. You can master your craft and be the most skillful person in your field of work, but you will never truly be successful without a successor. As what we’ve mentioned on the previous blog post, success is not measured while we’re alive, but true success is measured when we pass. Who’s your next?
Why Do I Have to Train Others and Duplicate Myself?
Learn the Importance of Training Others and Duplicating Yourself:
Training Others
As a department head in our church, I have the responsibility to have the best interests of the team at heart, see potential in people and help facilitate their growth in the gift that they have been given by God, and to eventually allow the department to excel in what we have been purposed to do. Although I believe that I have a gift in this area and possess leadership skills in this specific department, I can never take credit for what we could ever achieve or accomplish. First and foremost, all the glory belongs to God alone. Secondly, it’s a team effort—I cannot do it alone. Even if I can do it, as I know that I am a jack-of-all-trades, I’d still be a delusional fool to think I’d last. I am good at some things other people aren’t and there are some things other people are good at that I’m not. That’s why in our team, there are different people for certain positions and tasks that allow us to be efficient and effective in what we need to do. We all have specific functions and callings in wherever we may be placed for certain seasons or areas in our lives. We need people in our journey. We need one another.
As a leader in the team I am managing, it is imperative to see potential in people and bring out the best in them. Consequently, it’s important to be secure in my own call and purpose in the gift that I have, knowing that there are people who are more gifted and skilled than I am. In the bigger picture, we do what we do for one purpose—to glorify God. Just as our physical body has different organs with different functions, each single part is essential and vital. The tiniest gland in our body is not less important than the heart just because it is small. Even if it seems small, it plays a vital role. We cannot be insecure with people who have immense potential that could surpass us someday or even gifted people who are better than us. There are people who are put in place in our lives to complement us and help us in our journey.
I personally have mentored and trained people in the department I have been entrusted with. To be honest, there was a lot to work with, but we need to recognize their potential and see them not for their past, their skills, their competence, or their status, but for the “finished product” of what they could become. Now, they are in flourishing in the gift that they have, even surpassing me—and that's what brings me great joy and fulfillment. We cannot do it all. We may be able to manage at some point, but eventually, we will wear ourselves out. When we try to do things all on our own, failing to trust people—may it be from the fear of losing control, incompetence, losing recognition, fear of needing others or the fear of parting what you know, reluctant to share what you have with others—surely we will burn out, we will overlook the potential of others, and we become ineffective. We need to understand that we are limited in our abilities, that’s why we need one another. Our greatest asset and resource are people, not money or any material thing. Train today for the next generation tomorrow!
"Unless you want to carry the whole load yourself, you need to be developing leaders." — John C. Maxwell
Duplicating Yourself
"The distinction between a good leader and a great leader is as simple as multiplication." As a leader, we must continue to think of how we can help the team or the organization to become efficient and effective in the mission and vision that they stand upon. We learn, grow and improve not just for our own but for us to reproduce and duplicate ourselves. Duplicating in the sense of passing down the experience and skills we have acquired throughout the years in preparation for the future. As a leader, I must understand that things are always moving. We must not be "in-love" or be too comfortable in the position we are in. Those who love titles and position are comparable to slaves. When they lose their title or position, they lose themselves. The reason why we reproduce leaders who take our place is not for them to replace us, but for us to propagate the same purpose, expanding our scope in what we could do to achieve our goals together as a team.
I am currently the head of a department in our church and have been for almost 7 years now. We started with 3 people in the team, but as time passed, there were people with little skill but great potential and heart for to serve God through the team, and they grew as I trained them and helped facilitate their growth. Now, we are 11 in the team, continually growing and flourishing by the grace of God. Although, it wasn't easy as a head of the department with a fast-paced growth. I knew I needed someone that caught my heart, understood the purpose of why we do what do, and can do what I can do. Anytime, things could change. As the church grew, responsibilities inevitably increased. It's a good problem to have, although we have to be ready.
That's why it's important to train others and duplicate ourselves. I duplicated myself by training and mentoring someone that would be capable and ready to take my place when I'm not around and so that I could focus on bigger things for the team. This person is now the assistant head of our department, overseeing the team while I'm away in a different city for college, and focusing on the micro while I focus on the macro—we make a pretty good team. Recognize the potential of people around you, acknowledge their gift, and train them. You cannot move up higher in your life without helping people rise with you!
"Success without duplication is merely future failure in disguise." — Randy Gage
Who's Your Next?
Succession Planning is contrary to Replacement Planning. We must let go of the fear of people surpassing us, people replacing us, people getting more recognition than us and people being better than us. The purpose of succession is not to replace, but to reproduce. As early as now, we must think of the next generation. When we pass, it's not about what we leave for people, but what we leave in people.
If you'd be gone tomorrow, who'd fill in your shoes? Even in the team I'm handling, I don't want the team to be paralyzed when one person isn't available. If I'm not there, the team should be able to function on its own. We have to think ahead and plan ahead. What we have must be passed on. I want to live full but die empty. I want to give all that I have for the glory of God, fulfilling my God-given purpose and helping people do the same. But to propagate the purpose, we need people. Who's your next?
In conclusion, be reminded to let go of fear, insecurity, and jealousy. Each one of us has a specific purpose, gift and call. We all need one another. Let's learn to recognize potential in others and learn to bring out the best in others, while being secure where we are, knowing that there will be others that will surpass us someday. It's a mark of true success when we are able to duplicate ourselves and the people we train surpass our skills, as well as leaving a lasting legacy for the next generation, perpetuating the purpose through others.
May what you learned today help you in your success and be used to help others the same way. Do share your heart and thoughts in the comments and I would like to hear your stories as well. See you on the next blog post!
Sending love,
Coleene.
Read the previous blog post: Why Our Choices Matter: 4 Fundamental Principles in Living a Life of Legacy for the Next Generation
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