Business Quest 
Political tensions abound! The heated race was between two candidates, each with a ‘stone in his shoe’. One’s ‘stone’, a dubious record tainted by a string of criminal and other court cases as well as past incidences of impeachment.
The other’s, criticism over his age and ability to effectively perform the duties demanded by the office they both vied for.
These two issues sat on top of the agendas of each candidate, with each issue forming the ‘attack front’ for the opposing candidate. Finally the tension cracked! One of them gave in.
The candidate plagued by criticism over his age had had enough. Attack from his opponent compounded by pressure from his own base got the better of him.
He threw in the towel in favor of a younger candidate who would hopefully better represent the interests of his base and win them the election.
If you follow global politics, you will by now have figured out what I am talking about. Joe Biden, the incumbent President of the USA and one of the two top contenders in the race to occupy the office after the next election (the other candidate being former President Donald Trump) finally accepted to step down over criticism about his age after a sustained period of trying to defend himself against it and trying to prove that he was still fit for the job.
Ironically, he looked and sounded physically and emotionally relieved after the fact. Could it be because he had mulled over the decision for a while before he made it, hesitating to make it due to perceived persecution? His time for ‘retirement’ had obviously come but he had struggled with the decision.
The dilemma faced by Joe Biden confronts many a corporate and public figure.Just when is the right time to retire? And when that time comes how does one go about doing it? While there is no straight forward answer to the questions, I would go back to the central role of leadership to find one.
Leadership is about making others better because of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.I would argue that this implies that good leaders are concerned about legacy, and this can only be guaranteed if one has groomed others to take over from them. Surely then the first sign that you are ready to step down should be when your protégé is ready to take over.
Further to the above, the old adage tells us that the best time to quit is when you are on top. By doing so one ensures that they still have enough equity to carry into their next phase of life with the public respect that they deserve still intact, having gracefully worked their way up.
When sitting comfortably atop a crest it is important to remember that although for some the high tides last longer than for others, all tides eventually fall before rising again.
Fair or not, public sentiment is not so kind to those at the bottom of the tide, and that sentiment follows you into your next ride if you decide to quit while at the bottom. Good timing is of the essence.
A common trait of wise leaders is that they constantly pay close attention to their surroundings. Such leaders are always abreast with the salient intrigues that exist in every corporate environment and usually when there is discontent, they become aware of it timeously.
They are therefore in a good position to know when the discontent touches upon them or their leadership style and will quickly address the issue. On the converse, they will also quickly sense when the discontent is to do with fatigue in the leadership that they are offering and the need for change.
Sharp leaders will quickly read the telltale signs that they need to give way through this ‘informal’ channel and will start to ‘work their way out’ ensuring they exit whilst at the top of the crest.
As such it pays to “listen to the sound of the river”, as a mentor of mine likes to put it, to give you the signs you seek.
Being aware of one’s leadership purpose also goes a long way in helping solve this dilemma. Leaders who are purpose driven will consider their ‘mission’ over when they have achieved their purpose, and will know that hanging around after that will be counterproductive. Such leaders are deliberate in planning their exit from inception, making it easy for them to let go.
In conclusion, leadership is about many things. It is about driving inspiration, developing others, and driving results among others. But it is critical to remember that it is also about recognizing when it’s time to let go.
Walking away can be a powerful decision that reflects self-awareness, respect for the team, and a commitment to the organization’s long-term success.
The Author is the Managing Director, Kenya Breweries Ltd(KBL)
