Thursday, November 17, 2011
How not to handle succession in the arts
WBEZ: There could be worse ways to handle succession planning than the one chosen by the Miami City Ballet, but it would be hard to think of one. The Board of Directors, concerned that the ballet company would collapse when its famous artistic director Edward Villella retired, decided to test its own theory by forcing him out before he was ready to leave.
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4 comments:
Every organization needs some sort of a succession plan, whether it is a typical company where the plan is "promote the VP" or "everyone keep doing what you were doing and we'll find someone" or if it's something where there's an artistic direction that comes mostly from one person then that sort of "planning" won't work so well. A successor needs to be found that will be able to both direct the organization as well as continue the vision established for the organization. This is something much more specific and will take a lot longer to find.
This seems like common sense for any business. Succession is inevitable in a well sustained company, so there must be a plan to deal with that to maintain success. Well it may be an uncomfortable subject, it's a necessary and practical one. Refusal to respond to the prospect of creating a plan is stubborn and selfish. Having a solid plan or not having one will affect everyone involved in the business. It's just plain responsibility.
I am not sure whether or not ive decided that succession plans are vital because of this article, or because Tom Strong said so. He is, actually, the jesus of the theatrical realm. Haha, but seriously, a succession plan is incredibly important to the success of a business as their is a transition of powers. In agree-ance with the wise Mr. Strong, a successor must "be able to both direct the organization as well as continue the vision established for the organization." The right successor means everything about the future of a business, so its good to make sure you find it the right way.
I feel that once someone is getting old enough to possibly retire from their job they should be training someone or looking for someone to fill there shoes at the drop of a that. So even like this one do not happen. I wonder if they did have a plan that just when to way side. When a theater company is successful you would think that they would have a backup plan. I worked with a dance company this summer that was from Europe and there "art director" was somewhat the same way, he was getting older and performed in some of the pieces and did not appear to have a backup plan once he would leave the company I wonder if the company would die.
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