What being in the ‘leadership pipeline’ really means by Guy Farrow, AFR, 28 April 2015
Leadership succession can be like a race in complete darkness where, at the end of it, someone is declared the winner and the others weren’t even sure they were running in the right direction.
A top executive came to me recently with the question, “I’ve just been told I’m in the succession pipeline. What does it mean?” My response: “It means you have one option. You need more.”
Kim Beazley, now Australia’s ambassador to the United States, was in the succession pipeline three times, but never made it to Prime Minister. However, he had developed options, and maintained strong relationships with our alliance partners in the United States.
This doesn’t mean that if you are told you are in the pipeline that you immediately check out alternatives. You should be aware of the landscape as part of your ongoing observation of your market.
