Leading for Endurance: Succession and Legacy

Eric Viardot ()
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Eric Viardot: Skema Business School, Skema Executive Education

Chapter 14 in The Timeless Principles of Successful Business Strategy, 2026, pp 161-173 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Enduring leadership is defined as the capacity to align people around a shared purpose, adapt to uncertainty, and build resilient systems that endure beyond the leader’s tenure. The most effective leaders shape the future by embedding values, nurturing talent, and preparing successors. Their success relies more on personal qualities such as humility, resilience, and strategic presence than on technical skills. They empower teams, avoid micromanagement, and foster diverse perspectives. Enduring leadership translates into five key practices: designing agile and clear organizational structures, cultivating inclusive and high-performing teams, being present where impact matters most, building trust through credibility and vulnerability, and encouraging continuous learning and renewal. These practices form a coherent system that supports long-term performance and adaptability. Crises test leadership endurance, requiring empathy, clarity, and decisive action. The document also explores the dual nature of power, where ambition must be balanced with ethics to build a lasting legacy. True legacy lies not in personal achievements but in shaping culture, identity, and strategic direction. Succession planning is essential, involving leadership development, experiential learning, and smooth transitions. Ultimately, leadership endurance is measured by what continues to grow in the leader’s absence—resilient teams, enduring culture, and strategic renewal.

Keywords: Enduring leadership; Leadership resilience; Succession planning; Organizational culture; Legacy leadership; Adaptive leadership; Crisis management; Leadership traits; Trust building; Strategic renewal; Power and endurance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-14617-5_14

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