What is the main goal of succession planning?

The main goal of succession planning is to identify and track high-potential employees for future leadership positions within an organization. This proactive approach ensures that the organization has a pipeline of qualified candidates ready to step into crucial roles as they become available, whether due to retirement, promotions, or unexpected departures. By focusing on leadership potential, companies can develop their talent through mentoring, training, and skill development, fostering a strong leadership culture that supports long-term growth and stability.

In contrast, filling immediate job vacancies is a short-term solution that does not address the long-term needs of the organization. Increasing employee retention rates is certainly a benefit of effective succession planning, but it is not the primary goal, which is more focused on leadership development. Evaluating job descriptions might be a component of workforce planning, but it does not inherently relate to preparing future leaders, which is central to the concept of succession planning.