---
title: "Creating and Managing a Succession Plan"
slug: "creating-and-managing-a-succession-plan"
status: "update"
updated: 2026-08-22T15:55:46Z
published: 2026-08-22T15:55:46Z
canonical: "support.builtapp.com/creating-and-managing-a-succession-plan"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.builtapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating and Managing a Succession Plan

*For customers of our Succession Planning module.*

---

## To create a succession plan:

*By default, only Company Admins, HR Admins, and HR Managers can create and manage succession plans for all positions. Limited Admins can create and manage plans within their specified scope. A Company Admin, HR Admin, and HR Manager can allow Managers to create and manage succession plans for their subordinates by* [*configuring your organization’s succession plan settings*](/v1/docs/configuring-succession-planning-settings)*. Learn more about* [*succession planning permissions*](/v1/docs/managing-user-roles-and-permissions#succession-planning)*.*

1. From the main menu, navigate to the **Org Chart** page. Locate the position by [moving/navigating](/v1/docs/movingnavigating-the-org-chart) or [searching the org chart](/v1/docs/searching-the-org-chart).

*You can also create and manage succession plans from the* ***Succession Planning*** *page. Navigate the tabs at the top of the page to access related insights and settings to help you optimize planning.*
2. Hover over the position card and click the three-dot menu.
3. Click **Create Succession Plan**.
4. The **Succession Plan** side panel will open, allowing you to manage and [compare candidates](/v1/docs/visualizing-and-comparing-succession-plan-candidates).

Once created, you can access and manage the plan via the position card’s three-dot menu or the **Succession Planning** page.

### To add a candidate:

1. When viewing a plan, click the **Summary** tab, then locate the **Candidates** section and click the **+** **Add a Candidate** button.

*You can also add candidates from the plan’s* ***Compare*** *or* ***Matrix*** *tab using the button in the upper-right corner.*
2. Select whether the candidate is inside or outside the organization.
3. Use the space provided to begin entering the person’s name or title.
  - **If the candidate is in the organization**, locate and click the correct individual in the search results.
  - **If the candidate is outside the organization**, use the fields provided to enter the candidate’s name and any additional information you’d like to include.
4. Click **Save**.

#### Notes about managing a plan’s candidates:

- *Once multiple candidates are added to the plan, you can drag and drop individuals to reorder them.*
- *To edit an external candidate’s name or additional information, click the three-dot menu, click* ***Edit Candidate Details****, then make the needed adjustments before clicking* ***Save****.*
- *To remove a candidate, click the* ***X****.*

### Setting an Internal Candidate’s Readiness, Performance, Potential, and Flight Risk

On the plan’s **Summary** tab, you can select a level of readiness, performance, potential, and flight risk for each internal candidate by clicking the box below each label and selecting the appropriate option. Candidate ratings and other important criteria can then be visualized on the plan’s **Compare** tab.

*You can also adjust a person’s performance, potential, and flight risk on the* ***Job*** *tab of their profile in the* ***Employee Details*** *section, or bulk edit ratings for multiple individuals on* [*your official chart’s datasheet*](/v1/docs/creating-and-managing-positions#to-edit-an-org-charts-datasheet). *Ratings will be updated in the individual's profile, assigned succession plan(s), and on the* [*people matrix*](/v1/docs/visualizing-and-comparing-internal-talent-on-the-people-matrix)*. An individual’s readiness to fill a position can only be recorded within a specific succession plan.*

### To add notes about a candidate:

1. On the plan’s **Summary** tab, click the **+ Add Note button** below the candidate’s photo.
2. Enter the desired text, then click **Save**. To hide or display candidate notes, click the **Show Notes** toggle.

### To add a plan summary:

1. On the plan’s **Summary** tab, locate the **Plan Summary** section.
2. Click the **+ Add Plan Summary** button.
3. Enter your summary in the box provided, then click **Save**.

### To edit or delete a plan summary:

1. On the plan’s **Summary** tab, hover over the right side of the **Plan Summary** textbox and click the three-dot menu.
2. Click the desired option:
  - **Edit Plan Summary**: When the Plan Summary textbox opens, make the appropriate changes before clicking **Save**.
  - **Delete Plan Summary**: Click **Delete** to confirm you’d like to permanently remove the plan summary.

### To add or delete comments on a succession plan:

You can add comments about a plan on the plan’s **Summary** tab. To do this, locate the **Comments** box, click the **+** button to enter your text, then click **Save**. Comments will be displayed in the order they’re added, along with the author, date, and time recorded.

*To delete a comment you've added, hover over the comment and click the trash icon.*

### To export succession plan data:

1. Navigate to the **Succession Planning** page.
2. Click the export icon in the upper-right corner, then choose whether you’d like to export only the displayed plan data or all plan data.
3. Click the **Export** button to export the CSV file.

Please contact our Customer Success Team for additional assistance.

## Additional Resources

[Visualizing and Comparing Succession Plan Candidates](/v1/docs/visualizing-and-comparing-succession-plan-candidates)

[Configuring Succession Plan Settings](/v1/docs/configuring-succession-planning-settings)

[Learn About the Succession Planning Insights Widgets](/v1/docs/learn-about-the-succession-planning-insights-widgets)