Passing the Leadership Baton: A Winning Transition Plan for Your Ministry

by Tom Mullins

“A transition will be one of the greatest tests of your leadership, but it will also serve as one of the greatest rewards and testimonies of your legacy.” —Tom Mullins Successfully handing off the leadership baton to the next leader is essential to give our organization the best opportunity to thrive after our time of service. A smooth handoff requires meticulous planning and forethought. Yet most leaders put off even thinking about leadership transition until they are faced with a situation where they have no choice but to make a change. The results of not planning ahead can be devastating for both you and your beloved organization. Passing the Leadership Baton will help you manage the emotional transition yourself while fully supporting the next leader. Creating a seamless succession can be a challenge, but done successfully, it may very well be one of the greatest rewards you’ll experience as a leader.

Genres: Leadership

210 pages, Hardcover

First published February 24, 2015

Reviews

[Doug Van Meter]

Some practical help. Disappointed with many of his examples of 'success' such as Olsteen, etc. Heavy on principles from business models, extremely light on scripture. Probably discouraging for pastors of small churches. He definitely confuses 'big with best.'

[Ken Peters]

I appreciated this book simply because it addressed a topic that I've given too little thought. Mullins offers very specific and practical principles and guidelines for navigating leadership succession so that it's a win-win-win for everyone – the outgoing leader, the new leader, and the church. He definitely approaches the topic from a kingdom perspective that looks beyond the gripping distractions of the now and the me mindsets. There's much to be considered in this book, and I expect it'll be a resource I return to repeatedly.

That said, it seemed a shame that Mullins felt the need to do what felt like a continual stream of name-dropping with "my friend, so-and-so said this," and "my friend, so-and-so did this" as he rattled off one famous person's name after another. I get it. You were a mega-church pastor who moved in those circles. Unfortunately, one of those "friends" was Joel Osteen, and the book would've felt more credible without the quotations from those conversations.

[Matthew]

I'm sure I'll be revisiting this again and again, especially when it's my turn to receive the baton from someone else, as well as when it's my time to hand the baton off to someone who can run faster than me.

[L Kirk Sykes]

A must read for all Kingdom-minded senior pastors!

We are not going to live forever on this side of Heaven! Passing the Leadership Baton is a must read for all lead pastors who want to leave a lasting legacy; for the next generation of leaders and believers. Don’t take my word for it. Read it, and be blessed.

[Bill Welte]

Dr. John C. Maxwell says that every leader should begin planning for his succession the day he is hired. If you are at that stage in your life where you are beginning to think succession -- I highly recommend this read by Tom Mullins. While it is written for Pastor's anyone in any field who needs to prepare for succession needs this resource. It's worth its weight in gold.