Transiting from CEO to Retirement

Some CEOs take to retirement much easier than others. Being a CEO has its many perks, and stepping down into retirement means walking away from a lot – if not all of those perks.

Retirement is something best eased into carefully. You want to avoid sliding into the home plate, skinning your knees and elbows, and having the umpire call you “OUT”. Allowing yourself time to transition into this new phase of life requires thoughtful planning and preparation. It’s a good idea to plan your exit strategy with your transition team well ahead of time.

It’s a good idea to plan your exit strategy with your transition team well ahead of time.

In the article The CEO’s guide to success in retirement, Vistage staff presents a number of well-thought-out ideas to help CEOs start to think about how they will transition. In this article, Vistage Chair Simon Holt explains it this way:

“Being a CEO makes you feel like you are needed, wanted, and have a meaningful part to play,” “For many people, walking away from this is hugely mentally challenging.”

~Simon Holt

Having a good transition team in place is important to both the future of your business and you personally. You want to know that what you have created will continue on, and so it should. No matter what phase of retirement you find yourself in, any amount of planning for retirement is better than none. Be kind to yourself.