In times of abundance, organizations view leadership as the critical element. Succession planning is ranked lists of possible successors to high level positions. Although the named replacements rarely get the job, the exercise creates and distributes the precious commodity of status.
It is good to be in the succession plan. It is the ultimate evidence that you’ve joined the club. You are nearly indispensable. Excepting the fact that leaders rarely make good replacement choices, succession planning is a useful exercise.
