When senior leaders wonder why internal staff hesitate to step into executive roles, they often mistake caution for a lack of ambition.
Emerging leaders watch executive directors take the crisis call while on vacation, answer the board's questions late at night, and carry every organizational anxiety alone. While they love the mission, they refuse to inherit a job that can destroy their health.
If we want the next generation to step up, we need to redesign the role before we hand it over.
Jim Morgan's test is whether your team can make decisions, solve problems, and finish their work without waiting for you.
Questions to consider:
What is one recurring decision you currently make that could be fully delegated to a rising manager?
Have you given your team clear budget and authority boundaries, or do they still bring every issue back to your desk?
Next step:
Know someone carrying all of it alone? Send this to them. The free Applied Wisdom booklet is there if they want more. It's free, and it always will be.