Succession Planning for Contractors: Necessary Strategies for a Smooth Transition
- Contributor
- Larry May
May 29, 2024
Many construction owners find themselves putting off succession planning. It’s a challenging subject that involves confronting the reality of stepping back and entrusting someone else with a business you’ve built from the ground up. Given the non-stop pace of a typical construction office, it’s easy to see how this important task can end up on the back burner. However, discussing and planning for the future of your business is crucial for ensuring the long-term success of your business.
Ensuring Continuity and Enhancing Value
A strong management succession strategy not only increases and protects the value of your business but also yields numerous tangible and intangible benefits. Succession planning should be a structured and deliberate process that starts with identifying key decision-makers and defining clear goals and objectives. The business owner needs to decide who will be involved in the process, select essential external advisers, and develop a transition timeline alongside long-term goals.
The next step involves compiling a list of potential successors and defining the specific technical and soft skills required for the roles. Conducting psychological assessments can also be part of this process to ensure a good fit. Ideally, the chosen successor should have a hand in crafting the succession plan, allowing for a smoother, more informed transition as they are gradually prepared for their future responsibilities.
Leveraging the Owner’s Legacy
Successors must have access to the owner’s intangible assets, such as knowledge, skills, and relationships. Effective succession plans often focus on gradually reducing the company’s dependence on the current owner by systematically transferring this knowledge to the successor. This approach ensures the availability of a competent and valuable leader throughout the transition and promotes continuity and stability.
Building a Flexible and Comprehensive Plan
Flexibility is a crucial component of any succession plan, allowing it to adapt and evolve over time. As the planning process unfolds, discussions should also cover critical areas like ensuring future financial security for the owner, financial stability for dependents, maintaining family ownership, and treating children equitably. Each owner will have unique exit goals and timelines, making it essential to communicate these objectives with key organizational members clearly.
Poor communication can lead to costly disruptions, such as power struggles among employees or family members, and stress for external stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, lenders, and advisors. A well-structured plan anticipates these issues, ensuring all parties are informed and aligned with the transition strategy.
Despite its complexities and numerous components, succession planning should not be sidelined. An effective plan can be skillfully developed from scratch by following a clear, established process. For more information on succession planning tailored to your specific needs, contact your local CRI professional. We are prepared to help you get started and ensure a seamless transition for your business.