SUCCESSION PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP TURNOVER IN RELIGIOUS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

In a very evolving world, any business practice must align itself with the business management principles. Among these principles, the present research addresses the issues of succession planning and leadership turnover faced by religious and certain nonprofit organizations, yet frequently neglected and overlooked. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research answers the question: How can a religious or nonprofit organization practice objective and systematic succession planning and ensure leadership transition from one manager to another? The findings reveal multiple challenges with current succession planning practices and leadership transitions, notably the absence of standardized procedures and formal guidelines, the failure to effectively transfer knowledge and responsibilities, communication breakdowns, financial transparency issues, and employee resistance to change. Among the key benefits of this study is its development of practical solutions and evidence-based resources, which include templates, checklists, policy and guidelines to help organizations achieve better transition outcomes and maintain their operations.