How strong is your company’s tribal knowledge bench? If one colleague were removed, could you continue to operate? If you just thought, “Yeah, if it’s the new kid or one of the helpers, we could manage,” it’s time to drill deep into your team. In drilling, where 80% of all development knowledge comes from field experience, creating a succession plan for all team members is crucial. The plan starts with identifying which employees could step up to a role bigger than just a helper.
I know a great drilling company that recently learned a hard lesson about succession. I received a phone call days into the New Year from a northern drilling company. The call started with the traditional chat. How were your holidays? However, I could sense our conversation was rushed, and my friend needed help.