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

Interim Opportunities

Organizations have learned the importance of taking time to decide key appointments, and this has given rise to the number of interim appointments. While we wait for the permanent appointment, there is an awkward power vacuum to be filled. And the rising number of such interims has affected the political backdrop. The interim sits at the top table but is not an equal member, whatever the official line. But also, they are not without power. The temporary nature of the appointment means there is likely to be less investment and commitment from their new peer group. And the team that the interim heads up will view him differently than they would their permanent boss. The political dynamics around interims are unique, easily throw up ambiguity and misunderstanding, and can operate with fuzzy political contracts. Despite this dilemma, operating as an interim still offers us a unique learning opportunity and the chance to test ourselves at a higher level.

 

• Peers invest less with interims than they would with a permanent appointment.

• Interims need to be clear about ground rules and avoid fuzzy contracts.

• The ground rules should be widely known so everyone knows the score.

 

Our charter needs to include a commitment to learn more about how interim appointments affect the political backdrop of our work, especially if we might be an interim or if the opportunity calls.