Political Dilemmas at Work: How to Maintain Your Integrity and Further Your Career

Chapter Nineteen

THE INTERIM

You’ve accepted a fantastic job. The problem is that you’ve been told—and everyone knows—it’s only a temporary position. That’s when things quickly start to get awkward.

 

 

 

 

Interim appointments are becoming a more common feature of organizational life, especially at senior levels. The speed that ambitious and talented individuals move onward and upward results in key appointments forever needing to be filled—and if the organization’s performance is not going to suffer unduly, then filling the vacancy quickly is important—but not as important as making the correct appointment.

The hunt for the best talent available is not a quick or easy achievement. The best talent is usually employed elsewhere—not sitting around waiting for a phone call. So, the organization needs someone to take on the role temporarily while its talent-spotting process moves into action. Working as an interim has some advantages, but there are nevertheless significant disadvantages when you have to work with the inbuilt political dilemma of being the interim.

The Interim Dilemma

I’m doing my best, but I have to work with one hand tied behind my back all the time. The vice president of Business Development should have all the clout and credibility to make things happen, but being the interim Business Development vice president is a tougher call than I imagined. People just don’t seem to accept me in the same way.

Who should care if I am permanent ...