What is Succession Thinking?
The framework by Bill Withers for building a business that runs, grows and holds its value independently of its owner.
Forged when everything hit at once.
In 2008 Bill Withers was running a thriving software company: eighty people, four countries, growing fast. Then within months his wife was diagnosed with lupus, his son had his first seizure, and the GFC hit. The business ran on him, and at the moment his family needed him most, he could not step away.
What he learned under that pressure became Succession Thinking®: build the leadership, the culture and the way of working that let a business stand on its own.
Then he proved it. He found his successor, handed his own firm over, and stepped back.
Bill writes and speaks at successionthinking.com (opens in a new tab).
“A business that only works when you’re in it hasn’t been built yet. It’s just been started.”
Bill Withers
Succession Thinking
Build a resilient business and deliver sustained value.
by Bill Withers
The five principles.
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Seek role clarity
Untangle owner, director and operator, so every role is deliberate.
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Build your Owners’ Vision
One clear owners’ vision that every major decision flows from.
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Build leadership beyond you
Leaders who carry real decisions, and keep maturing as people change.
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Build culture beyond you
A system for culture and values that holds when the owner steps back.
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Build your business way
How the business runs, written down, so it transfers to whoever comes next.
See where your business still depends on you.
Under five minutes, no email. Your highest-risk area and the first move to make.