Transition Plan: 7 Secrets Every Leader Needs to Know

by Bob Russell, Bryan Bucher

You’ve trained for months. Three workouts a day. Wind sprints. Long distance. Weight training. Your speed and endurance are the best they’ll ever be. You’re at your peak, about to run the race of your life. And everything you’ve worked so hard for comes down to a few seconds on a track. The gun fires, and you fly faster than ever before. Your heart pounds. You sense that you’re breaking records with each step. But at the final turn, the unthinkable happens. Right as you’re extending the baton to the next runner, it somehow falls to the ground. You watch in slow motion as it hits the track, bouncing away from you. Up to that moment, everything had been perfect. But dropping the baton cost your team the race. And for the rest of your life, you wonder why you didn’t practice the transition.

While not all of us run relays, all of us do have to make transitions. But batons drop everyday in churches, businesses, and organizations. Sooner or later, you will face a transition. Will you be ready? If not, you may endure the agony of a failed transition. The good news is that you don’t have to. Not only can you avoid dropping the baton, you can even strengthen your organization by preparing for upcoming transitions.

Genres: Leadership

156 pages, Hardcover

First published August 23, 2010

About the author

BOB RUSSELL At just twenty-two years of age, Bob became the pastor of Southeast Christian Church. That small congregation of 120 members became one of the largest churches in America, with 18,000 people attending the four worship services every weekend in 2006 when Bob retired. Now through Bob Russell Ministries, Bob continues to preach at churches and conferences throughout the United States, provide guidance for church leadership, mentor other ministers and author Bible study videos for use in small groups. An accomplished author, Bob has written over one-dozen books.Bob and his wife Judy of 50 years have two married sons, Rusty and Phil. In his leisure time he enjoys playing golf and is an avid University of Louisville football and basketball fan.