David’s leadership story is not finished until he hands over the reins of leadership to his son Solomon. Sadly, the account given in 1 Kings 1 teaches us more about mistakes to avoid in succession than it does about giving a positive example. When David is old and unable to lead, Adonijah, Absalom’s brother, sets himself up as king without David’s knowledge. Bathsheba quickly goes to David with the news to protect herself and her son Solomon, whom she believed was heir to the throne. David then appoints Solomon the king and after some time of confusion “Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established” (1 Kings 2:12). Although the transition appears settled after David’s death, Adonijah makes a more subtle attempt to gain power, and Solomon orders his execution, bringing another tragic death in David’s family. What can servant leaders learn from David about how to succeed in succession?

Be quick.

1 Kings begins with a description of this great leader, “When King David was old and well advanced in years, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him” (1 Kings 1:1). David was an old man shivering in bed and still had not handed over the reins of power. He waited far too long to lead a smooth transition. While this may not have been uncommon for kings, his subsequent actions make it clear that it was within his power to hand over before his death. Instead David did nothing and waited until the situation forced him to act. In succession, servant leaders recognize that earlier is better and they act quickly. They begin planning for a person to succeed them as soon as they take a position. They don’t wait until they are in bed! Servant leaders are more concerned about lasting results than short term power, so they move quickly to plan for succession.

Be prepared.

David was no longer able to lead but had not prepared anyone to take over from him. We noted in the last issue that David had failed at home to develop his sons into warriors. The information about Adonijah is revealing, “His father had never interfered with him by asking, "Why do you behave as you do?" (1 Kings 1:6). David does not seem to have learned any lessons from Absalom’s rebellion about the need to prepare the next leader. He has thought about Solomon leading, but has done little to prepare him for the difficult task of taking over power. All leaders know that they will die; but few have prepared anyone to succeed them. Many leaders find it difficult to even discuss this future reality. Servant leaders recognize that they are called not only to lead, but to prepare the next leader whom God will use to continue the vision.

Be clear.

David had apparently shared his intentions about Solomon with Bathsheba and a few trusted people, but not more broadly. This lack of clarity brought confusion. Adonijah took advantage of the power vacuum and made his claim on the throne. Bathsheba tells David, “My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him” (1 Kings 1:20). David could have avoided much confusion and perhaps the death of yet another son if he would have simply called a family meeting to discuss the plan for succession. Servant leaders not only have a plan for succession, they clearly communicate their intentions to all who need to know. Their desire to serve the next generation well overcomes their natural reluctance to discuss the inevitable with their families and with those they lead.

Our leadership journey is not over until we hand over. Learn from David that today is the time to start succeeding in succession.

For further reflection and discussion:

• In my context, how is succession normally carried out? Are leaders free to talk about succession? What has been the result? What can I learn from David’s life that will help me do better?
• What have I done in my leadership to prepare for succession? Do I have a plan of who will take over after I am gone? Have I shared this plan with those who need to know? Have I decided when will I step down? What can I do this week to chart the way forward?
• Have I prepared my family for life without me? What things do I need to do to serve them by preparing for the future? Do I have a will? Have I talked with my spouse about my wishes for the future? Are my children aware as appropriate for their ages?
• If you are a young leader like David’s sons, what can you do to better prepare for future leadership? Are there ways that you cSuccession, an serve the leader over you that will encourage him/her to prepare better for succession? How might this be a test of your own leadership?

Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land (Psalm 45:16). In previous issues we focused on the ‘fathers’ who are passing on the baton to the younger leader making them ‘princes throughout the land.’ Now we’ll look at the developing ‘prince’ who receives the baton from the leader running ahead and focus on how this leader can receive the baton well. This young ‘prince’ often has been watching others run and is eagerly awaiting the chance to join in the race but has given little thought to the process of receiving the baton. Servant leaders carefully prepare to receive the baton in the following ways.

Receive the baton as a treasure.

You have grown and developed and may have been waiting for a long time for the moment that the baton would be placed in your hand. It is easy to grasp the baton as yours and forget the price the others have paid to make it possible for you to run. They may have established the business or planted the church. They have struggled to pay the bills or worked without pay. Recognize the role the ‘father’ played in making you a ‘prince.’ Maybe you should write a note to that person expressing your gratitude for his/her role in your life and thanking them for the way they ran their lap. Servant leaders don’t receive the baton as their right, but as a precious treasure given to them by God through the leader who ran before.

Receive the baton as a trust.

As the baton is placed in your hand remember that you are a steward of the baton, not the owner. Your leadership role is a gift from God, and while you are responsible to develop your leadership ability, the baton is not something you have earned, it is a gift given to you for a higher purpose. The race is not about you. It is not about proving to others that you can run or do better than the previous leader. Servant leaders don’t receive the baton as an owner of the role, but as a steward; they see their role as a sacred trust from God.

Receive the baton temporarily.

As you grasp the baton it’s time to realize that you hold it only for one lap. This lap is yours, the race is not. Already it’s time to begin thinking about how you will hand it off to another! There is a lot of privilege and freedom in being a ‘prince’ and a son. In that role you looked forward to taking the place of your father. But as soon as you take the baton your role shifts to that of a father. With privilege comes immediate responsibility. Fathers are responsible to reproduce and develop more ‘princes in the land.’ Servant leaders recognize that leading is a temporary role and that they are called to prepare the next leaders as they run their lap.

Timothy is an example of a young leader who gracefully received the baton from Paul. He served under Paul’s mentorship for many years and successfully carried out many assignments. He heard and followed Paul’s words of encouragement to be strong and to run well. He received the baton from Paul but knew that his role was to prepare the next runner. He followed Paul’s instructions, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2Timothy 2:2). Timothy ran the second lap with the third and fourth in mind.

The race is not won on the first lap nor the second. It is won when the fathers run well and prepare the princes for their lap. They receive the baton well and begin their lap with the next transition in mind. The hands of servant leaders are needed on both ends of the baton!

For further reflection and discussion:

• Reflect on how well you received the baton in your current leadership role with the following questions: Were you reluctant or eager to lead? Did you express appropriately your appreciation to the one who ran before you? And, if not, what can you do today to do this? Did you begin with the end in mind and take steps to prepare the next leader for your role? If you did not, what are you currently doing to develop the next leader?
• Reflect on the relationship between Paul and Timothy in regard to the passing of the baton. What did Paul do well in preparing Timothy? How did Paul release the baton? What attitudes did Timothy possess that prepared him to receive the baton?
• If you are currently in the role of a ‘prince’ and waiting for the baton, reflect on the following questions: What is my attitude towards the one currently in leadership? What is my real motive for wanting to lead? Am I ready to recognize leadership as an issue of stewardship instead of for personal gain or fame? How is God using my time in waiting to develop my character?

Relay races are often won or lost in the process of passing on the baton. If the baton is dropped or fumbled at this point valuable time is lost. Servant leaders aim for a smooth transition as expressed in our key verse for this series: “Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land (Psalm 45:16).” Note the instruction, “You will make them…” This instruction is clearly to the “fathers,” the current leaders. Servant leaders recognize that the primary responsibility of passing the baton to the next generation lies with them. They do this in several ways.

Pass the baton consciously.

Passing the baton is a conscious choice made by a leader with foresight. Many leaders focus only on what they hope to accomplish in their own leadership but servant leaders look ahead to what God has for the next generation and accept His call to empower that generation. They acknowledge that they are called only to run one lap of the race and are continually looking for other runners to whom they can pass the baton. They pray fervently for God to raise up other workers for the harvest and watch carefully to see who around them God may be calling to take their place. They are very conscious that a key part of their role is to develop “princes throughout the land.”

Pass the baton carefully.

The process of passing the baton is not as easy as running the race and requires great care. Servant leaders carefully prepare for transition, knowing that many races are lost in the process of passing the baton. They prayerfully select leaders and invest their lives in the next generation. They begin their leadership with the end in mind. They recognize that it takes time and energy to build leaders and gradually increase the amount of authority and responsibility given to the next generation. They coach and provide training and allow room for mistakes to be made. Servant leaders understand that “you will make them princes” is God’s commission to them and requires careful attention.

Pass the baton completely.

When the time is right to pass the baton, servant leaders pass it completely. Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks of leadership is releasing power to the next generation especially when the work has been a God-given passion for the older leader. But servant leaders make themselves available for counsel and recognize that their primary role now is to encourage and pray for the emerging leader. They resist the powerful temptation to take back the baton at the first sign of struggle. This in no way implies a lack of oversight or appropriate structures of accountability but it does mean that there must be a clean and clear transition. Make a public announcement and celebrate as appropriate. Make it clear to all that the baton has been passed.

In the race of leadership we are not only called to consciously, carefully, and completely pass on the baton, but if we do it well and early enough, we will have the incredible privilege of standing on the sidelines, cheering on the new runner and offering words of encouragement as they pick up speed. This is one of the greatest joys of a servant leader and I pray that we may all experience it.

Elijah is an example of a leader who passed the baton on to young Elisha. Elijah consciously selected a young leader and invested his life in his successor. He carefully groomed Elisha in the final years of his leadership and when the time was right he completely passed the baton to him.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Have I consciously thought about what will happen when I’m no longer in my position of leadership?
• Have I identified a person or persons who can take my place?
• What am I currently doing to invest in those leaders to enable a smooth transition?
• Does the organization I am leading have a plan in place for transition of leadership? If not, what steps do we need to take to develop one?
• What will it mean for you to hand over the baton completely? What are appropriate levels of accountability or oversight for the next generation?
• Sometimes as leaders, we have the privilege of passing the baton on several times during our lifetime as we move from one leadership role to another. If you have already had this experience, reflect on how successfully you passed the baton on to those who followed you. What did you learn which will help you do better in the next transition?

Whether it means turning the church over to a young leader, handing over the reins of a family business to the next generation, or releasing our children to be adults, the task of passing on the baton is difficult. Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land (Psalm 45:16). The verse sounds easy enough, but around the world, more often than not, the baton is not passed well to the next generation. Several things are lacking in leaders who find it difficult to pass on the baton.

Passing the baton is difficult because of insufficient security.

When leaders are not secure in their positions and in who God has called them to be, they will find it difficult to raise up other leaders. Our key verse says, “your sons will take the place of your fathers.” Many fathers don’t want to give up their place! They are proud of what they have accomplished and their sense of personal worth is tied to their achievements. Proud and insecure leaders want their name to remain on the organization forever. Servant leaders accept God’s call as a trust given to them for a limited time. They are not threatened by the gifts and callings of emerging leaders. They are secure enough to give up their “place” by humbly empowering and blessing the next leader.

Passing the baton is difficult because of insufficient vision.

Some leaders simply don’t have a vision for passing on to the next generation what God has entrusted to them. They are shortsighted and see little beyond their own lifetime. Many leaders have developed skill and competency over time. They love what they do and they do it well. They focus on the task at hand and miss the long-term goal. Servant leaders recognize that the vision which God has given to them is much bigger than their time of service. They see that God’s vision is to use their leadership gifts to multiply leaders for the next generation.

Passing the baton is difficult because of insufficient trust.

It is often difficult to trust a younger, less experienced leader with the tasks we have learned to do. The new leader will make mistakes and will probably not do the job as well, especially at the beginning. Servant leaders show faith in God by trusting others. They reflect on their own life journey and acknowledge that they also made mistakes and learned along the way. With this perspective, they learn to trust that God will guide the next leader just as He has guided them.

Passing the baton is difficult because of insufficient training.

Sadly, most of us received very little training in the art of passing on the baton. On the track, coaches run drills to teach the runners the skill of passing the baton. Where are the coaches in our churches, homes and businesses? Servant leaders, even if they have not seen this skill modeled, accept the call to pass on the baton. They look closely at Biblical models for training in this art and ask God for wisdom to do it well. (Our next issue will look more at how we pass on the baton.)

Saul is an example of a leader who failed to pass on the baton. He had personal insecurities and was deeply threatened by the gifts and call of David. His vision focused on his own desire to establish a family dynasty rather than God’s ultimate purposes for the nation. He held tightly to his position of power until his tragic death.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Reflect on the four insufficiencies mentioned (security, vision, trust, training). Which of these is the most significant for your leadership? What steps is God calling you to take to change?
• Reflect on “your place.” What does it feel like to envision someone else in your current position? What does this indicate about your heart and motives in leadership?
• Think about your vision for the group you lead. Is your vision primarily concerned with what happens during your lifetime, or is it a bigger vision of what God will do through future generations? Take a few moments and ask God to enlarge your vision.
• Have you recently taken any steps to show that you trust a younger leader? If so, what was it? If not, what can you do this week to demonstrate trust in an emerging leader?

Wherever I travel in the world I find that developing, equipping and releasing the next generation is a significant challenge for parents, church and business leaders. Yet handing over leadership to younger leaders is one of the greatest things servant leaders can do for the sake of the Kingdom of God. We’ll devote the next several issues to the priority and process of passing the baton, an image of how leadership is passed to the next generation. The baton is used in a relay race to signify the end of one runner’s effort and the beginning of another. A key verse for this series is Psalm 45:16, Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land. In the natural world it is easy to see that fathers raise sons who grow up to take their place. In the realm of leadership the same is expected of all servant leaders. My leadership effectiveness is not simply about myself and doing well as a leader. Rather, it is determined by how successfully I pass the baton to those who will follow. Why is this process crucial to my success as a leader?

Passing the baton is the only way to grow new leaders.

Think for a moment about how you developed your leadership ability. Was it by reading a book on leadership or practicing? I can guess with certainty that your answer is that you learned leadership by practice. Someone gave you a responsibility or assignment, and you learned how to do it. The only way that we will be able to grow new leaders is to allow them to learn in the same way we did. Giving responsibility allows others to grow and develop. Selfish leaders do all the work themselves; servant leaders pass the baton.

Passing the baton is the only way to multiply leaders.

Servant leaders are desperately needed in every home, business and community. We not only need to grow a new generation of servant leaders, we need to multiply them! One son is not enough in leadership! We need more than one son in the natural realm and we need more than one “Timothy” in our realm of leadership. If we do not multiply leaders we cannot fulfill the Great Commission. Two billion persons still wait to hear the Good News of Jesus. We cannot reach them alone but each of us can pass the baton to several others. Servant leaders are passionate about the multiplication of other leaders.

Passing the baton is the only way to finish the race.

Our leadership journey is not a single lap around the track; it is simply one leg of a much longer race. We will finish our portion, but not the race. The only way for the race to be completed is for us to pass the baton well to the next runner. Selfish leaders see their leadership as one lap around the track. Servant leaders know they are not finished until they have served the next generation by passing the baton to the next runner.

Paul is an example of a servant leader who ran well and passed the baton to the next generation. He not only reproduced himself in Timothy’s life, but multiplied leaders such as Titus and Luke. He visualized the baton being passed to several generations as he said, And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others (2Timothy 2:2).

Wherever you are on your leadership journey, take a moment to reflect on how you will measure the success of your leadership. Where are you in the process of putting your baton into the next runners’ hand?

For further reflection and discussion:

• Why is it not enough for us to simply run our race well? What is the result if this is our only focus?
• Read Paul’s words to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:1-22) as he comes to the end of his leadership race. In what way does this passage reflect Paul’s passion to multiply leaders? In what way has he prepared to finish his race? Does he view his impending death as the end of his ministry?
• In your leadership, how close are you to the finish line? What steps is God calling you to take now to pass the baton to others?
• Have you identified others who will carry on your work after you are gone? Are you deliberately investing in their lives to prepare them?