Look around your executive team. How many of you were external hires? Every hand goes up.

Now show me how many managers you have promoted from front-line positions.

Zero. Not one. Crickets.

Host Colby Morris shares the devastating boardroom moment that exposed why one organization could not stop the turnover bleeding. When every leadership opening goes external, you are sending your team a clear message - there is no path forward for you here.

This episode transforms succession planning from a once-a-year document gathering dust into a living breathing process that builds real leadership bench strength. Discover why promoting your best performer without asking first can backfire spectacularly (the Michael Jordan Problem), Patrick Lencioni's three characteristics for identifying future leaders, and how to weave development into one-on-ones and annual reviews so it actually happens.

Learn the CFO COO conversation that reframes training investment, the three integration points that make succession planning real, and how to prevent favoritism while building genuine leadership bench strength.

Whether you're losing top talent because they see no future or struggling to fill leadership roles internally, this episode gives you the practical systems to develop your people intentionally and create clear paths forward.

• What role do one-on-ones play in succession planning and employee development?
• How do I know if someone wants leadership or prefers being an individual contributor?
• What should I look for when hiring people I can develop into future leaders?
• How do I make succession planning a living process instead of an annual document?
• How do I build leadership bench strength without playing favorites or showing favoritism?
• Why are all my leadership positions filled by external hires instead of internal promotions?
• What's the difference between high performance and actual leadership potential?
• How do I create career paths for individual contributors who don't want management?
• How do I prevent favoritism when identifying and developing future leaders?
• Why is consistent external hiring hurting my employee morale retention and engagement?

CONNECT WITH COLBY MORRIS

Keynote speaking executive coaching and team training

Website nxtstepadvisors.com

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/colbymorris

ABOUT THINGS LEADERS DO

Practical people-first leadership strategies for managers who want real results. Host Colby Morris founder of NXT Step Advisors shares insights from his executive coaching practice to help you build stronger teams develop future leaders and create workplaces where people see a path forward.

• Colby's LinkedIn Profile
• Things Leaders Do Instagram