Treat it the same way you handle Cybersecurity. If your plan cannot survive a table top simulation, it will never survive the real thing.Most CEO succession plans collapse when tested because they are built for optics instead of outcomes. Learn how to create a real plan that names successors, identifies gaps, and makes the CEO responsible for talent readiness.SEO Summary:This article exposes the common failures behind most CEO succession plans and offers a practical, outcome-driven alternative. It explains why potential is not the same as readiness, why tabletop simulations are essential, and why the CEO must take ownership of building the bench. From identifying real successors and calling out development gaps to stress-testing your plan and tying leadership continuity to enterprise risk, this guide delivers what boards, CHROs, and CEOs need to prepare for a real transition. Because what happens after the CEO leaves will define the business more than any chart in the board deck.