Which strategic action should Lois take to ensure leadership continuity as the organization grows?

Which strategic action should Lois take to ensure leadership continuity as the organization grows?

• A. Building a board of advisors and creating a succession plan
• B. Launching a new product line
• C. Hiring more sales staff
• D. Expanding office space

Answer: (A)

As organizations grow, leadership continuity becomes essential to keep strategy and culture stable even as responsibilities and key people change. Building a board of advisors provides external perspectives, mentorship, and networks that help current leaders refine strategy and anticipate challenges, while a formal succession plan identifies potential internal leaders, defines the skills needed, and lays out development steps and a clear timeline for transitions. This combination reduces disruption, preserves institutional memory, and signals stability to employees, investors, and customers. Launching a new product line focuses on growth, not on ensuring smooth leadership succession. Hiring more sales staff boosts revenue but doesn't address who will lead the organization long-term. Expanding office space tackles capacity, not leadership continuity.

As organizations grow, leadership continuity becomes essential to keep strategy and culture stable even as responsibilities and key people change. Building a board of advisors provides external perspectives, mentorship, and networks that help current leaders refine strategy and anticipate challenges, while a formal succession plan identifies potential internal leaders, defines the skills needed, and lays out development steps and a clear timeline for transitions. This combination reduces disruption, preserves institutional memory, and signals stability to employees, investors, and customers.

Launching a new product line focuses on growth, not on ensuring smooth leadership succession. Hiring more sales staff boosts revenue but doesn't address who will lead the organization long-term. Expanding office space tackles capacity, not leadership continuity.