The important factor is that success stems from having both strong leaders and a strong organization. Which one comes first or is the greatest contributor is not as important as having both, and in that way, you can put the chicken-and-egg questions to rest.

The great leader theory is not right in the sense that it makes it sound like the great leader can operate independent of the organization, and that is not the case. Great leaders are people who have the courage and tenacity to make tough decisions, and they do so in consideration of the goals of the organization and the lives of the people who either work with it or are impacted by it. Succession planning allows leaders to work most effectively by creating a system for developing leaders and critical staff that can ensure the business runs smoothly and profitably.