
Involve your successor in important decisions and ensure as best you can that he or she agrees with any long-term goals before they are announced. Support your successor in whatever way you can. Transfer authority before it is necessary. Use this time to coach your successor behind the scenes. The moral of this story? Be a happy and productive lame duck.Īnd bear in mind that it’s not all that bad to be a lame duck. Beyond providing humor, this literal lame duck helped to break the ice about the potentially awkward topic of his upcoming departure. His direct reports and his successor thought this was hilarious. He brought this plush “lame duck” with him to a few meetings. In anticipation of his retirement, one of my favorite CEO clients, bought a stuffed duck and wrapped up one leg. Your life, your successor’s life, and the lives of your coworkers will be a lot better. So what’s the solution? Make peace with being a lame duck - before it happens. People will start sucking up to him or her the way they used to suck up to you. Colleagues who have encountered your disapproval for their pet ideas will just “wait it out” and re-sell their ideas to your successor. Eyes will immediately turn to your successor as their vision for the team, department or company will mean more than yours. No one wants that to happen.Īlmost every leader goes through this inner dialogue as part of the challenge of “slowing down.” This fear, which often results in postponing the announcement about succession until the last minute, inhibits what could have been a much smoother transition.įace it: When you are nearing the time to exit, you will become a lame duck! That is okay. The common fear is that if they declare their intentions too soon, they will become lame ducks. If the President is not able to hold office, either because of death or failure to qualify, the Vice President will act as President.For many leaders, it is hard to make the announcement that they will soon be passing the baton of leadership to their successor. The Twentieth Amendment also provides for succession plans if the newly elected President or Vice President is unable to assume his or her position. What are some effects of the 20th Amendment? The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified and the terms of their successors shall then begin. Constitution that sets the inauguration date for new presidential terms and the date for new sessions of Congress. The Twentieth Amendment is an amendment to the U.S. What does the 20th Amendment mean for dummies? Also defines who succeeds the president if the president dies. What did the 20th Amendment do? - Sets the dates at which federal government elected offices end.

Why is the 20th Amendment important quizlet? The amendment reduced the presidential transition and the "lame duck" period, by which members of Congress and the president serve the remainder of their terms after an election. The Twentieth Amendment was adopted on January 23, 1933.
