Map decisions, not just job titles
List the approvals, customer relationships, pricing calls, hiring decisions, and operational exceptions that routinely land with the owner. A job title can look transferable while the important decisions remain centralized.
Identify key-person bottlenecks
Ask what would slow down if the owner were unavailable for two weeks. Look at estimating, production scheduling, collections, vendor relationships, safety decisions, and handling customer issues.
Build continuity with practical ownership
Assign clear decision rights, cross-train critical tasks, document repeatable processes, and review whether leaders have the information and authority to act. Delegation without support can introduce new operating risk.
Measure progress over time
Track which decisions were handled without owner escalation and whether quality, margin, service, and employee experience stayed consistent. Consider the Exit Readiness Deep Dive for a broader view of transferability.