How to Train a New Spirit Box Team
Succession Plan
The very blunt rule of thumb, “if I were to get hit by a bus tomorrow could my role be filled by someone else? Do they have the resources to do my job?” I told you it was blunt…
Seriously though… if something were to happen, where you could not fulfill your role, would the next person be prepared to take over? People leave roles all of the time for a variety of reasons whether they move, change jobs, graduate, etc. It is your responsibility to prepare the person who fills your role when you leave through proper documentation, notes, important contact information, and more. Leaving proper documentation and notes will allow your successor to not only fill your responsibilities but grow the role through their personal strengths.
Picking a New Team & Assigning Roles
How do you pick the next team for your Spirit Box?
Is it the next class that takes it over?
Do students apply?
Are students handpicked?
If this isn’t already established create a process of how the next team is selected. We recommend having a team of 3-5 people each fulfilling a specific role. Roles we recommend are general manager, finance, product, inventory and purchasing, and marketing. Read more on the details of each role.
Leaving them with the resources to succeed once you are gone
All living documents you used
Log in usernames and passwords
Timelines and training notes
Notes/suggestions from previous team or manager
These notes can include tips and tricks, important contacts and their information, challenges you’ve had, ideas you have tried, and more! Basically, any information that would be helpful to them.
Advisor Role Succession Plan
Teachers change schools or leave their position. Turnover is natural but is the next advisor going to be prepared if you leave this project? As an advisor, how do you prepare your team to succeed if you are no longer their advisor? Leave your students in a position where they can continue on without you.
Ways to prepare the next advisor:
Create a private advisor folder in your Spirit Box Team’s shared drive
Leave them notes of how to best lead your team
Be transparent, tell them challenges you have had and how you overcame them
Leave them a list of important contacts they can use as resources.
Conclusion
The best gift you can give someone who is replacing you or filling your role for when you leave, is leaving them with everything they need to do your job. Why? Because you built your role into what it is today. If you leave and the next person needs to start from scratch, all the hard work you put into that role was a waste of time. Let them take what you grew and build it to another level. This is how companies grow and thrive. An added bonus, the person filling your role, will most likely be immensely grateful.