Leadership and ManagementTalent Management and Succession Planning
Succession plans are commonly a list of names against roles, written once and read when somebody resigns, by which point the named successor has usually left too. This course covers building something that works. Delegates work through identifying the roles that genuinely need succession rather than planning for the whole organisation, defining what success in each looks like, and assessing potential separately from current performance, since the two are routinely confused. Development that actually builds readiness is covered: stretch assignments, exposure and the deliberate gaps a successor must close. Talent review discipline follows, including calibration across managers who rate differently. Retention of identified successors is addressed. The course closes on transparency, on whether to tell somebody they are a successor, and on emergency cover.
Course objectives
- Identify the roles that genuinely warrant a succession plan
- Define what success in each critical role actually looks like
- Assess potential separately from current performance
- Build readiness through stretch assignments and exposure
- Run talent reviews with calibration across managers
- Retain identified successors without over promising
- Decide on transparency and provide for emergency cover
Who should attend
- HR directors and talent management specialists
- Organisational development practitioners
- Senior line managers responsible for critical roles
- Learning and development managers
- Executives involved in succession governance
Course outline
- 01A list read when somebody resigns
- 02Which roles warrant succession planning
- 03Defining success in a critical role
- 04Potential against performance
- 05Development that builds readiness
- 06Talent review and calibration
- 07Retaining successors
- 08Transparency and emergency cover
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 to 4 November 2026 | Kigali, Rwanda | Classroom | USD 995 per delegate | Register Now |
| 9 to 11 December 2026 | Online | Online | R6,500 per delegate | Register Now |
| 3 to 5 February 2027 | Durban, South Africa | Classroom | R14,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 8 to 10 March 2027 | Maputo, Mozambique | Classroom | USD 995 per delegate | Register Now |