Handing over leadership to new officers at the end of the year is an extremely important time of transition. While it can be tempting to give in to the feeling of being “done,” you should be devoting the time and energy to ensure the new officers are comfortable in their roles.
- Update and organize your officer notebooks. Clearly document the year’s activities so the new officer has a blueprint to work from.
- Have a one-on-one meeting with the incoming officer. Set aside plenty of time to explain the responsibilities of the position, the constitution, any budget, and timelines for any projects that will be bridging the officer transition. Make sure the new officer is informed on what they need to do to complete those projects. Identify key individuals the new officer should be establishing connections with, and go over resources you have used in the past. This is also a good time to go over any mistakes they can easily avoid making, and tips for a successful year.
- Have the new officer attend any relevant meetings with you towards the end of the year. Introduce them to others they will be working with in the coming year.
- Towards the end of your term, have a second one-on-one meeting to get updates on any projects they are taking over, set additional goals, and give the new officer a chance to ask questions that may have occurred to them. Make sure you are available to the new officer during these early stages!