https://sites.google.com/site/hudacktm/home/succession-planning
Managing the transition from one district administrative year to the next is critical to each district’s long-term success. Creating an effective transition ensures that a district preserves its knowledge base, which in turn enables the district to continue to serve clubs in the most effective way possible. Follow this guide to help plan an effective district transition and set the district up for a successful year ahead. Keep in mind that this is a guide, and actual practices may differ from district to district. Begin by scheduling a meeting that includes the outgoing and incoming district leadership teams.
Before the meeting, identify what needs to transition:
Identify key items that need to transition and who they should transition to
Look at any pressing business that will need to occur in the midst of the transition (i.e., financial or any decisions that were made in the current administration that will affect and/or impact incoming leaders)
Create a transition calendar and checklist to ensure understanding and accountability.
Create an agenda to:
Review goal achievement over the past year to understand where the district has been, and help you identify where it is going
Address any pressing business that may impact the incoming officers
Dedicate time on position-specific transition (e.g., outgoing program quality director works with incoming program quality director)
At the meeting, review the following (you can also use this exercise for any discussion related to specific district leader positions):
Things that worked well supporting the District Success Plan
Were there any District Success Plan items that did not get completed?
What the district leaders would have done differently if they knew then what they know now
The following are examples of items that should be transferred according to position, but there may be more:
District Director
Oversee district transition
Year-end audit, due to World Headquarters on August 31
District financial records, due to World Headquarters on November 30
Program Quality Director
Negotiated contracts (e.g., district conference, audio visual, catering, etc.)
Training evaluations (e.g., club and district leader)
Any processes for district-level speech contests
Club Growth Director
Public Relations Manager
Contact information for local media and any media relationships built during the year
Administration Manager
District records (e.g., meeting minutes, district operating procedures, etc.)
Finance Manager
District budget and all monthly variance reports
District assets (e.g., anything the district purchased during the year)
Division Directors
Any documentation (e.g., minutes) and actions of the division council
Area Directors
Any Area Director’s Club Visit Reports that could assist an incoming area director in servicing and supporting the club
Any documentation (e.g., minutes) and actions of the area council
It is beneficial to start thinking about the transition; the incoming leadership team will need to focus on learning all aspects of their respective roles from the outgoing leaders. Look for opportunities for your incoming and outgoing district teams to work collaboratively to ensure a smooth transition.
As the incoming leadership team learns their roles, they may be able to identify items they feel would be beneficial for future teams to know.
Make transition planning part of every district year. Set the stage now and put a process in place that will be long-standing and effective for continued success.
Budgets - income & expense items
Location info for all district meetings - contact names & info
Clubs - how much of the Toastmasters educational program does each participate in?
Where are District/Division/Area physical assets? Banners, lights, food serving supplies, etc.
What worked? What didn't? What can we change?
Incentives
PR campaings
Officer trainings
District Officer trainings
Division & area contest locations
Any lessons learned?
Future leaders?
Where are TI resources online? URLs? District resources online? Club Coach Troubleshooting Guide
What do you know now, that you wish you'd have known when you started?