Beyond the plan: how succession maturity can drive middle management development

This study explores how succession maturity goes beyond planning to actively drive middle management development. Using a quantitative approach, the research examines the relationship between structured succession processes and adoption of development practices for middle managers. The study surveyed 156 professionals from diverse industries, functions, and hierarchical levels, and used ANOVA and chi-square tests to analyze the data. The findings indicate that organizations with higher succession maturity implement more structured and diverse development initiatives for middle management. However, despite these efforts, middle managers are often unprepared before assuming their first leadership roles. These results highlight the importance of integrating succession planning with talent development strategies, reinforcing the pivotal role of middle management in sustaining organizational success. By demonstrating that succession maturity is not just a procedural step but a driver of managerial growth, this study contributes to discussions on how organizations can strategically enhance leadership pipelines through well-structured succession processes.