Is an interim director the best option at this time? If you're looking for a new director, you're usually facing a five to six month search process to recruit and bring on a new leader. This is a time of extra work for the board, anxiety on the staff, and potential concern by your funders. As experienced interim directors we bring calm, stable leadership at a time of uncertainty. We'll step in quickly and assess things. Then we'll focus on the systems, from financial oversight to board involvement and HR that you need to be in good shape for a good transition. We'll provide leadership for the staff, and help them be sure that your programs, the essential work of your organization, can continue.
I have served on a myriad of non-profit boards of directors and found the insight and the assistance that our interim brought to our organization was invaluable. In each and every instance, our interim Executive Director acted with competence, integrity and professionalism. The insight brought to us was based on vast experience provided a resource that our organization was lacking during our time of transition between executive directors as well as expanding the scope of our service coverage. What impressed me most was the willingness to hit the ground running despite lack of experience with our specific mission area. He proved to be a quick learner and easily adapted what he had learned from his other experiences with non-profit organizations to apply to a business-oriented non-profit organization. The achievements in meeting its goals in that fiscal year are due in large part from the efforts of our interim leader. I would strongly encourage utilizing this service again in the future.
Our interim director focused on specific ways that supported the board in doing its key work during this time of transition of leadership. This was happening at a time in which financially we were at an impasse regards to a key partnership. The interim quickly cut through the chaff to the heart of the problem and with full appreciation of the personalities involved, helped lead our organization to the realization of key options to resolve the dilemma, and led us through serious deliberations that had been lacking until we had this guidance and clarity of goals.
