What is your approach to succession planning?

1 Why it matters

Succession planning is not only important for your organization, but also for your own career development. It shows that you are proactive, forward-thinking, and committed to your team and your goals. It also demonstrates your leadership skills, your ability to assess potential, and your willingness to mentor and coach others. By having a clear approach to succession planning, you can impress your interviewer and showcase your value as a manager.

2 What to include

When responding to this question, it is important to include your vision and objectives for succession planning, as well as the criteria and methods you use to identify high-potential candidates. Additionally, you should discuss your strategies and actions for developing and retaining talent, such as providing learning opportunities, coaching, feedback, and recognition. Finally, it is essential to provide examples of how your approach has benefited your organization, team, and candidates. This could include metrics, achievements, or feedback you have measured or received.

3 How to structure

Using the STAR method is a good way to structure your answer when talking about succession planning. This helps you provide a clear and concise story of your approach. For example, you can start by giving some background information on the context and challenge of succession planning in your organization or team. Then, explain what your role and responsibility was in the process and what you wanted to accomplish. After that, describe the specific steps you took to identify, develop, and retain talent for future roles. Lastly, highlight the positive outcomes and impacts of your actions on your organization, your team, and your candidates.

4 What to avoid

When answering this question, you should be mindful of a few mistakes. First, be sure to provide specifics and examples to support your points. Do not give a generic or theoretical answer that does not reflect your actual experience or practice. Secondly, avoid being negative or critical. Refrain from blaming or complaining about any challenges you faced in succession planning; instead, focus on how you overcame them and what you learned. Finally, come prepared and aware. Do not admit that you have never done succession planning or that you do not know how to do it; rather, research and prepare before the interview and relate your answer to the position and organization.

5 How to practice

One of the best ways to prepare for this question is to practice with a mock interview. You can ask a friend, colleague, or professional coach to role-play as the interviewer and give you feedback on your answer. Additionally, you can use online platforms or apps that offer mock interviews and tips. Practicing for an interview has many benefits, such as improving your confidence and communication skills, refining your answer to make it more concise and relevant, and anticipating and addressing any follow-up questions or objections. Ultimately, having a clear and effective approach to succession planning is a vital skill for any manager who wants to grow and sustain their organization. With this in mind, practicing for an interview can help you stand out from the crowd and ace it.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?