Checklist for Business Continuity and Succession Planning

Business continuity and succession planning may seem overwhelming. You have too little time to get done the business staring you in the face, much less giving thought on how to help your successor(s) do your job and run your office. But the process of planning for both also has value in helping you make sure you are operating your office in an efficient and effective manner and so that you can locate documents and records you need to do your job well.

This checklist is intended to help you think about issues and offer simple solutions. You need not “attack” them all at once. Pick a topic and make that the topic of the week or of the month. In January I am going to locate all of the contracts with employees, independent contractors, vendors, and others and place them in labeled files. February will be personnel files month, including locating and locking up medical records. And so forth.

Most church, presbytery, and synod offices are small, with only a few employees. Perhaps only one. Some thoughts as you consider how to organize or reorganize your office.