March 2011
CareerTips
Succession Planning: Smooth Sailing or a Shark beneath the Waters?
by Terry Hollon
 A seasoned executive once compared unidentified succession management problems to a shark beneath calm waters --- what you don’t see and don’t know about can definitely bite you and end up costing you an arm and a leg! What’s the status of your organization’s management succession plan? Do you anticipate “calm seas” (e.g., a smooth transition if a manager leaves) or “shark infested waters” (e.g., a fight for your organization’s life in finding the right person for the vacant job)?
One of the most important jobs of a leader is to prepare the organization for the future --- to ensure that the business is a “going and growing concern” --- that it is not dependent upon a single manager or a group of managers. The need for a successor can strike suddenly due to illness, death, an unanticipated resignation or retirement. That’s why more and more organizations are investing time in succession planning so that when this need arises, the organization “never misses a beat.” In fact, some organizations insist that all managers, regardless of level, have a successor identified, competent to do the job, and “waiting in the wings” should something happen. These organizations treat the identification and development of a successor as a crucial part of the incumbent’s job.
Continue reading here to gain valuable tips and information.
The Bottom Line on Happiness
By Myles Golden
A summary of the article by the same name in the Harvard Business Review
Written By
Professor Clayton M. Christensen
The Harvard Business School
 Once again, I have stumbled across another article relative to happiness. You may recall an article I wrote previously titled "What Makes Us Happy" taken from the book titled Gross National Happiness written by Arthur Brooks, a Professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. I’m fascinated by these books because, in my business, I coach a lot of people who are unhappy, mostly due to their career or lack thereof. Therefore, any information I can share with them relative to finding happiness in both their lives and especially their career, I’m all in.
Professor Christensen says he asks his students three questions on the last day of class:
- How can you be sure you’ll be happy in your career?
- How can you be sure your relationships with your spouse and family will endure?
- How can you be sure you will stay out of jail?
Professor Christenson tells us that he believes there are five essential tools we can use to answer these three questions and thus live a purposeful life.
Spring into Action ~ Volunteer!
 Volunteer opportunity:
Reedy River Duck Derby,
May 7, 2011, 10 AM – 4 PM. www.reedyriverduckderby.com
Especially needed are adults to help cordon off the banks as “river guards” to keep people out of the river during the race. It’s also the best view of the race! Other needs are traffic, sales booths, information booth, helping with vendor set-up and take-down, wear the Duck Suit, run errands. Does not have to be the entire day.
Contact Ann Golden at agolden@goldencareerstrategies.com or 864-527-0425.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
 United Way agencies
Ready 4 Reading
Habitat for Humanity
Mauldin Miracle League
Greenville Literacy
Meals on Wheels
Greenville County Library System
American Cancer Society
Greenville Area Opportunities
- searchable by category
Golden Career Strategies Speaks:
Recent Speaking Engagements & Sponsorships
Myles Golden conducted a workshop for The Commerce Club of Greenville on “Branding for Membership Development and Retention” on January 6, 2011.
GCS ~ Silver Sponsor for GSATC (Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Technology Council)
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