There are valuable corporate lessons to be learned from the FIFA scandal.
For me the main lesson is the length of time a peak leader stays in the role, which is ultimately a succession planning issue.
Whether a corporation of some sort or a government or even a dynasty, without a timely authentic ‘changing of the guard’ sponsored by the entire senior leadership and supported by the culture, then the Sepp Blatters of the world will ultimately ‘poison the well’.
The well is poisoned by the faeces of the inevitable ‘elephants in the room’ and ‘sacred cows’.
Succession planning is a key strategy that has the best interests (sustainable value, growth and profitability) of the organisation as its core purpose.
That succession planning must address, at least, the following capabilities:
- To ensure a sustainable unquestionably authentic values based culture
- To be of maximum value to their stakeholders
- To be innovative and creative in always developing that value
- To develop their people to their full potential
- To be outward looking as well as inwardly aware
- To continuously execute succession practice – basically by having future leaders step up whilst the incumbent steps aside to coach and mentor.
I believe the current investigation into FIFA will show they did none of the above and the elephants and sacred cows are now coming to light.
Can you recognise any Sepp Blatter Syndromes in your neck of the woods?
If so, what will you do about it?
