#190 | Why Every Organization Needs a Succession Plan With Naomi Hattaway

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Naomi Hattaway, founder of Leaving Well, for a timely conversation on workplace transitions, succession planning, board leadership, and what it means to leave an organization with intention. Naomi shares why organizations often talk about hiring, growth, and vision, but avoid the harder conversations around departure, transition, termination, retirement, and succession. She explains why leaving well is not just about the person leaving. It is about protecting the mission, honoring the people, and creating continuity for the organization. Kyle and Naomi also discuss board responsibility, documenting systems, proactive succession planning, interim leadership, and how organizations can create more humanity, clarity, and even joy in the process of transition.   Episode History 00:00 — Introduction 00:39 — Meet Naomi Hattaway and Leaving Well 01:00 — Can workplace transitions include joy? 02:00 — Why people leaving should not surprise us 03:00 — Practical ways to add humanity to departures 04:30 — How personal history shapes our relationship with transition 05:00 — Hattaway’s background and personal connection to leaving well 06:00 — Moving, change, and learning how to say goodbye 06:45 — Interim leadership, succession planning, and board development 08:45 — Why succession planning matters in nonprofits 09:45 — Defining what it means to leave well 10:45 — Leaving a legacy through documentation 12:00 — Why organizations struggle to document processes 13:00 — The value of after-action reviews 14:00 — Creating transition binders and archives 15:45 — Where boards and leaders should begin 17:30 — How to introduce succession planning without creating fear 18:30 — The danger of starting from scratch after a leader leaves -- Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast Subscribe to Apple Podcasts 📞 Schedule Your Call Here 🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers 👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance 👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King