Tom Adams
Too many organizations underperform because they fail to pay sufficient attention to leader transitions. As a result, the mission, those served, and the employees suffer. In my work with more than 300 organizations facing leader transitions, I’ve identified many factors that influence the outcome of a leader transition.
The power of leader transitions to advance, weaken or destroy organizations and the power of a planned and well-executed transition to strengthen and transform organizations.
Unfortunately, not every leader transition goes so well. Think for a moment about organizations you might know that were weakened or destroyed by a flawed leader transition. Arts organizations, charter schools, food banks, group homes for people with developmental disabilities, neighborhood development initiatives and community health clinics of all sizes have felt the pain of failed or flawed transitions.
See our Resource Pages for additional information on each topic.
I imagine we all are hoping for a better 2021! In my town of Greenbelt, Maryland, we marked the ending of the tumultuous 2020 by all going outside at midnight on New Year’s Eve to bang pots and pans. Not a new idea, yet very therapeutic and symbolic of the feeling of...
We need to believe in something other than our own intellect and abilities. This awareness led the pioneers of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) to the liberating and empowering notion of a “power greater than ourselves – a Higher Power.” Today we explore this second key...
Thanksgiving, November 26, marked the 125th birthday anniversary of Bill Wilson. Most people have never heard of him. Yet millions owe him their lives. In a world beleaguered by challenges beyond our understanding and response capacity, what Bill co-created with...
It may be a stretch to feel grateful this Thanksgiving. 2020 abounds with emotional pain for most of us. Economic and physical suffering or even death are touching so many of us. In the “divine economy,” our suffering can be louder than our gratitude. In my quiet...
Presidential transitions are complex. They involve our national government, our leaders and politics. I am sure the Biden administration has a lot of guidance on the political and government transitions. I wonder if they are involving enough people with experience...
Gratefully, one kind of noise has stopped – the endless commentary and worry about who is ahead in the polls and who might win the Presidential election. Fortunately, the noise of congratulations for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris can...
I don’t think I am alone in feeling a heaviness and weariness on Election Day 2020. No matter which way the election goes and how soon we know the results, the road forward is not clear. No one has the answers. The acrimony and divisiveness that is present in...
The 2020 Presidential Election is in its home stretch. If Joe Biden wins, January will bring fresh hope for many of us along with a long period of individual and collective discomfort and chaos as we explore this new beginning together with those who voted for the...
Hiring a new executive takes more than just a hiring process. Changing executives is a big deal for any organization. Tim Wolfred, a leader in developing the art and science of nonprofit executive search and transition, lays out a well-developed and proven process...
Too many organizations underperform because they fail to pay sufficient attention to leader transitions. As a result, the mission, those served, and the employees suffer. In my work with more than 300 organizations facing leader transitions, I’ve identified many factors that influence the outcome of a leader transition.
Tom Adams writes and speaks on topics vital to the intersection of our personal lives with our community and global lives. He has for decades been engaged in and written about nonprofit leadership and transitions, spirituality and spiritual growth, how we each contribute to a more just and equitable world and recovery from addictions and the Twelve Step recovery movement.