We are considering promoting a staff person to act temporarily as the interim executive, is that a good idea?   Smaller organizations frequently lack the staff “bench strength" to make a temporary promotion of an existing staff member to the role of interim executive. For larger organizations with adequate staff “bench strength" temporarily promoting a staff person to an interim executive position might work. However, there are many things to consider before choosing this option, including:

1. How will the staff member's current job be accomplished? What is at risk, if the work is not completed?
2. Is the person fully qualified and capable of being the executive? If a crisis occurs, will this person be able to handle it?
3. Can the organization weather the potential challenges to staff relationships that may result if the temporarily promoted staff executive makes difficult and potentially unpopular decisions? This can affect peer relationships and make working together down the road more challenging.
4. Will the temporarily promoted staff executive be content to return to his or her previous position once a new executive is hired? If not, can the organization afford to have this individual leave the organization?
5. Will the temporarily promoted staff executive be a candidate for the permanent position? Will potential candidates from outside the organization not apply because they see the search as a “lock" for the internal candidate acting in the interim position? What are the possible implications if the internal staff interim is not selected? Are there multiple staff members interested in applying for the position? Will this temporary promotion be seen as favoring one person over another?
6. What are the unintended consequences of the relationship between the temporarily promoted staff executive and the successor executive? Can the organization afford to have the staff member leave the organization, if the incoming executive feels threatened or the staff member has a difficult time relinquishing control?
7. Will the organization appropriately compensate the temporarily promoted staff executive during the interim period? Will the person expect higher compensation after the temporary period has ended because of the perception of their increased value to the organization? Can the organization afford the additional cost? Will it create disparities in compensation among other staff?

Issues surrounding internal staff interims are addressed more fully in our article, Executive Director Transition? Help the Board of Directors.