Channel partners more than ever feel the pressure to develop the leadership talents of their employees.

The channel is facing a succession crisis. Many leaders of agencies and MSPs are entering retirement age and asking questions about the future of their business. But a large number of them are doing little to plan for the future. A 2021 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 56% of organizations lacked a succession plan. Only 21% of respondents worked for an organization that had built a formal plan.

It's time for partners to get serious about the future.

Anthony Palmucci, founder and director of coaching at Thinking Without Restrictions (TWR), will expound on the topic of leadership at the MSP Summit and Channel Partners Leadership Summit, Sept. 13-16, in Orlando, Florida, next month. His keynote will challenge the idea that there aren't enough leaders available and shed light on what it looks like to develop hidden leadership talents.

Palmucci fielded questions from Channel Futures about how entrepreneurs can develop their leadership skills and build succession plans.

Channel Futures: You say some leaders are born while others are bred. What do you mean by that?