Having worked on a substantive amount of CEO successions over the years, we strongly believe that this process should be made more organic and less crushing, where runners up can actively turn their experiences into knowledge and enlightenment as future leaders. This starts by creating a thoughtfully conceived process with careful attention to the thorough development plans for all the contenders.

In every organization, there is a “next generation” waiting in the wings—whether they are family members, rising executives, or external leaders being groomed for succession. How they are nurtured, integrated, and ultimately empowered to lead shapes not only leadership transitions but the evolution of culture itself.

The commitment to inclusion, equity and diversity in businesses can – and should – stay on course.

Increasingly we have seen several Product leaders becoming CEOs. Leaders holding that magic mix of advanced technology experience and knowledge with an agile and iterative Product mindset are being sought after in a world where innovation is moving faster than ever.

Understanding and practicing Real-Time Leadership is more important than ever. Leaders no longer have a moment to waste with the sensory and data overload we are facing and the many divergent voices surrounding us.

The mounting uncertainty of the past few years have weighed on long-term planning in family businesses. In our CEO study, we heard from 153 family business CEOs who emphasized self-transformation in order to lead effectively into the future.

Companies are ramping up sizable technology investments, however leading digital transformation is more about the people and the organizational culture than it is about the tech.

For future transformation, CEOs can take a cue from Founders for powerful examples of organizational creation and reinvention.

It is, above all, the trust a leader builds with others and how they create those connections that define truly great leadership.

Five steps that take leaders through the process of devising options or alternative pathways to reach performance goals.