Governance Records Series
Board Leadership Transition & Handover Workbook
A Practical Continuity System for Outgoing & Incoming Board Leaders
Leadership changes are where organizational knowledge quietly disappears. This workbook gives outgoing and incoming leaders a shared structure for passing along responsibilities, context, and unfinished work.
Who this book is for
- Outgoing presidents, chairs, and officers
- Incoming board leaders preparing for a term
- Governance and nominating committees
- Organizations with annual officer rotation
What problem it helps solve
- Institutional knowledge leaves with the outgoing leader
- Unfinished work has no clear handoff
- New leaders restart instead of continuing
- Transition happens in one rushed conversation
What's inside
- Responsibility and role handover pages
- Current priorities and unfinished work records
- Key relationships, contacts, and commitments
- Calendar, recurring obligations, and deadlines
- Joint transition meeting prompts
- First ninety days guidance for the incoming leader
How to use it
- Start it well before the transition date
- Complete the outgoing sections during the final term months
- Work through it together in a joint handover meeting
- Leave it with the incoming leader as a reference
