4 Key Steps Kamala Harris and Any New Leader Need to Take to Ensure Success

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4 Key Steps Kamala Harris and Any New Leader Need to Take to Ensure Success

By Suzanne Lucas | Inc Magazine | July 22, 2024

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Leadership transitions are difficult, and Vice President Kamala Harris has a huge transition she has to nail if she wants to win the official nomination as the Democratic candidate and even more so if she wants to beat Donald Trump for the presidency.

Whether you’re stepping down to let someone else take the helm at your company or stepping up to take over, understanding how to make a leadership transition is critical for your success. Harris needs to approach this move as you would in a business, and here is what you should do to make the transition a successful one.

1. Secure endorsements.  Political endorsements are formal. President Biden and the Clintons gave formal endorsements of Harris. Similarly, when Elon Musk took over Twitter, Jack Dorsey, the former CEO, issued a formal endorsement of Musk.  In smaller businesses, of course, you won’t have headline-grabbing endorsements but you should secure them one way or another — if the former leader is amenable. (Of course, if the company is a complete disaster, getting the endorsement of the person who led it to that state isn’t your best move.)  Getting (or giving, if you’re stepping down) endorsements helps your employees know you have the support of the previous leadership. A shaky endorsement or non-endorsement (as Barack Obama has done for Harris) can increase the difficulty of the transition.
2. Present a clear plan.  You need to present a clear plan. You may want to wait out of respect to the previous leader, but people look to the new leader and want to know what to expect. If you want to keep things on the same course as the person before you, that’s fine, but be clear about it. Let your employees know what to expect and when to expect it. Now is not the time to lie, though. Don’t say, “We will continue the path set forth by the previous CEO” if you have no intention to do that. A better thing to say is, “I’m excited to start, and I will look at what the previous CEO did and make changes as necessary. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.”  But if you say you’ll listen before you present your plan, you better ensure that you listen and respond.
3. Remember, your position is not secure.  As noted, not every Democrat is currently endorsing Harris for the nomination.  Harris needs to understand that she may not walk away with the nomination. And even if she secures the nomination, she may not walk away with the presidency — Trump has a pretty strong base.  This means you cannot take your position for granted.  When you take over a leadership role, remember that they can see you out just as they brought you in. CEO is not a place to slack off. You must be all-in and committed from day one and ensure you listen to your employees and customers.
4. Hire wisely.  Harris needs to announce a vice presidential candidate. She may wait, but at some point, she needs to appoint her leadership team. This is a critical step for a leader. The wrong person will damage her candidacy, and the right person may shoot her over the top.  While any new leadership you hire won’t be scrutinized as much as a VP nod will be, people will see your new hires as a representation of what it is you represent and the path you want to follow. Your first new hire will matter a great deal.

3 key takeaways from the article

1. Whether you’re stepping down to let someone else take the helm at your company or stepping up to take over, understanding how to make a leadership transition is critical for your success. Harris needs to approach this move as you would in a business.  
2. What you should do to make the transition a successful one: secure endorsements; present a clear plan; remember, your position is not secure; and hire wisely.
3. Your company probably won’t ever have the visibility that a presidential candidate will, but taking over these difficult roles has a lot of similarities. Doing it right the first time will help ensure success. 

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Topics:  Leadership, Transition, Teams, Trust, Endorsement