Many organizations in our industry right now are in heavy growth mode. Businesses are competing fiercely for the best available talent that will replace the retiring Boomer generation in the coming few years. Astute leaders are walking many steps ahead, recognizing that promoting from within is rarely possible if they wait until a seat is vacant before they begin identifying internal candidates. Instead, they have a strategy for identifying leadership potential early, investing in that potential, and grooming leaders in-house who have earned the respect of the team and possess knowledge of roles and processes from day one.