The unconscious intent behind a CEO transition

It is often stated that most CEO transitions fail citing the primary reason as culture fitment. And there is tons of advice available from HBR (by Harvard Business School) and McKinsey & Company and other leadership firms on what the outgoing CEO/Founder should be doing to prepare for their transition.

I did the Conscious Entrepreneurship Program over the last few months and came away with a ton of realizations that are helping me in a more effective transition to Cactus Communications' new CEO.

Though I had read a lot of the good material out there, while doing the program I realized that most of the advice, while well-meaning, doesn't address a very important element of unconscious intent. How should the outgoing founder/CEO first become self-aware of their actual emotions and then address their feelings of uncertainty, a sudden lack of control, need to prove/justify their previous decisions, feelings of "I Know Better" and the Ego that comes with having built a successful organization.

In my case I feel fortunate that through the introspective nature of the program and through the incident diary and meditative practices I was able to see how my unconscious intent could have come in the way of an effective transition. My need for validation and ego of knowing better could have contaminated the very action I am trying to undertake: help Cactus move into its next orbit through allowing it to have a life beyond its founders. And it is probably an important factor in CEO transitions not succeeding, the unconscious intent of the outgoing Founder/CEO who wants to remain relevant, in both thought and action.

Over the next few weeks I intend to share my learnings and realizations, some short and some longer, in the hope that it helps other entrepreneurs and leaders seeking to build out their lives and businesses.

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