Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Interim Sales Leader?
“O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't.”
from The Tempest by William Shakespeare
If you are looking for the obvious (“seasoned executive, been there, done that”), stop reading and click here.
The article below, however, is the personal, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes. The sometimes ambiguous, less glamorous side of being an Interim. And when you are done reading you will think, this was obvious, too.
You have to enjoy working at all levels. Not every assignment is a Chief Commercial Officer role, and some may be just below your full potential.
Be comfortable working from home and away from home. Some assignments may be out-of-town or out-of-state, while between jobs you will be at home.
Have meetings for coffee three times a week: Actively foster and grow your network on an ongoing basis. Even with an agency working on your behalf, you will want assignments coming from your network.
Have the ability as a Solopreneur to manage all aspects of your own business (sales, marketing, operations, finance).
Be prepared that you may become the fall guy in a change management scenario. George Bradt’s suggestion: Know it and make sure to be compensated for it.
Enjoy persistence, toughness, and positivity, as well as your family’s emotional support to get through the uncertainty of the next assignment.
Have a solid understanding of the applicable employment and taxation laws.
Know how much you need to live on for 3-6 months and have this amount in reserve. There is the potential for a dry-spell.
Always be prepared to answer the question, are you interested in this position permanently?
Be ready to decide not to take an assignment when it is not the right fit for you, even if the client wants you.
Interim Sales Leaders are entrepreneurs, independent by nature, and have chosen Interim Leadership as a career path. They like the challenge, variety, and flexibility it offers, and they find it rewarding.
Does that sound like you?
Are you ready to take an interim role?
__________________
George Bradt – The Secret To Success In An Interim Leadership Role