Redefining Retirement In The Post-Biden Era

In May of 2016, I wrote an article titled “Leadership Has a Shelf Life.” I described how leaders often stay too long because of the uncertainty of what’s next for them and for the organization. It is hard to do what is in the best interests of the organization and also in one’s best interests. I said, “It takes moral courage to leave a safe place when you have been comfortable.”

I thought of this article as the pressure was being put on President Biden to step down after the Biden-Trump debate in June. The situation could be a classic Harvard leadership case study about a leader’s shelf life, transition, and succession. We witnessed how hard it is to let go so that others can step up. It was painful to watch Biden push back against the momentum of leaders from government and industry wanting him to hand over the baton even when knowing it was the right thing to do.