Interim Leadership Solutions = Lasting Results NC Center for Nonprofits Statewide Conference September 13, 2012

About the Presenters Kathy Ridge President, Levridge Resources 20 year career in business (banking) 8 years in nonprofit leadership and turnaround consulting Services: Interim Exec. Leadership | Business Assessment | Planning for nonprofits in transition Writer and workshop leader Jeanie Duncan  President, Raven Consulting Group  Lead Consultant,TransitionGuides  Adjunct Faculty, Center for Creative Leadership  20 year career in the nonprofit sector  Services: strategy | succession planning | executive transitions | interim leadership | board & staff development | executive coaching  Presenter | Author

Today’s Goal Understanding value and benefits of interim leadership. Interim leadership as a part of succession planning and transition management. Characteristics of effective interim leadership. Tips for hiring an interim.

Why an interim? Continue operations without stalling out during leadership transitions. Independent ‘eyes’ and assessment. Strategic choice point. Turning point for a nonprofit organization. …why not an interim?

Profiles to Avoid Incumbent staff. Applicant. Board member. Former ED. Community leader.

Characteristics of effective interim leadership Quick assessment ability. Focus. Positive, energetic, optimistic. Use of process consulting methods. Appropriately involves board and others. Readying the organization for “what next.”

Characteristics, continued Honoring but leaving history behind. Assessment but not strategy. Willing to position next leader for visible success. Implementation of change (staff meetings, management reporting, board meetings, etc.). Reduce drama and tension.

Benefits of an interim: Serves as a bridge. Manages day-to-day. Offers objective assessment and recommendations; addresses issues. Strengthens and readies the organization. Reassures board, staff, stakeholders. Models excellence. Mentors new Executive Director.

Leading Change & Transition Management Change is an opportunity. Power of the pivot – the neutral zone. Tackles unique challenges related to transition. Opportunity to redefine roles and relationships. Can break unhealthy ties to the past. Paves the way for new future.

Transition: Coming to Terms with Change

Effective Interim Results Stabilized the organization. Conducted an objective assessment. Made progress on current operations plan. Strengthened: Organization infrastructure and relationships. Leadership reputation of organization. Prepared the organization for future success, including leadership transition.

Tips for Hiring an Interim Begin with the end in mind. Identify most urgent issues and challenges. Focus on what the organization needs, not the prior leader. Determine priorities for transition. Seek an individual specifically skilled as an interim director. Compensation considerations. Tap local resources for candidates.

Questions

Resources Interim Executive Directors: The Power in the Middle by Tim Wolfred, CompassPoint Nonprofit Services Founder Transitions: Creating Good Endings and New Beginnings Interim Leadership: Looking Beyond the Executive Director The Case for the Interim Director By Kathy Ridge, Philanthropy Journal Why and How to Hire an Interim Executive Director By Jeanie Duncan, Common Ground, a publication of the NC Center for Nonprofits, Winter

Presenter Contact Info Kathy Ridge Levridge Resources 240 Wendover Hill Court Charlotte, NC , ext Jeanie Duncan Raven Consulting Group PO Box 4404 Greensboro, NC Today’s PowerPoint presentation slides can be found at:

Thank you!