Now, not later, is the time to prepare for leadership succession. Developing a plan for continuously strong bench strength is a plan for long-term success.

- By Dave Desouza

Anyone who enjoys learning the history of commonly used expressions must wonder about the source of the term “bench strength” when used in reference to succession planning and leadership gaps. It reflects America’s love of baseball, as it refers to the skill of players sitting on the dugout bench, ready to step up and play ball as needed.

In baseball, player gaps usually occur because of injuries or sickness. In business, leadership gaps reflect lack of planning. For many businesses, the benc....