In any industry, temporary solutions often get a bad rap. They’re seen as quick fixes that enable leaders to kick the can a little further down the road. But is that really all they do? Absolutely not. Both figuratively and literally, temporary solutions—like band aids—can be crucial for stopping the bleeding and providing necessary stability.
In the healthcare industry, these temporary solutions frequently take the form of interim executive leaders and managers. Interim leaders don’t just help mitigate the immediate challenges; they also offer strategic direction, revive stalled initiatives, and buy your organization the time to make more informed long-term leadership decisions.
Interim healthcare executives can drive substantial transformations in short periods, positioning your organization for long-term success. Let’s take a closer look at five key benefits that interim executives can bring to your healthcare organization.
Benefit 1: Keep Key Initiatives on Track
Imagine running a health system while rolling out a virtual monitoring program when your Chief Information Officer (CIO) unexpectedly leaves your organization. Without leadership, the program could falter, leaving your organization with significant sunk costs and no return on investment. On top of your costly new equipment sitting unused, patient safety could be compromised if processes are improperly implemented, and your organization could face regulatory risks if patient data is mishandled.
In this instance, an interim technology executive could step in to maintain the momentum of critical initiatives like this. Interim executive leaders assure the safeguarding of your organization’s investments, maintaining patient safety standards, and protecting reputation.
Benefit 2: Maintain Manageable Workloads
When an executive leaves, their responsibilities don’t follow them out the door. In many of the healthcare organizations we’ve worked with, the executive’s duties often get redistributed among existing staff, who are already managing their own workloads. If the leadership role remains unfilled for too long, crucial tasks may fall through the cracks.
Increased workloads without additional support can lead to burnout and attrition across the care continuum, creating a negative cycle that leaves your organization struggling even more. When you’re left with a leadership vacancy, interim executives can manage workloads, support your remaining team members, and maintain morale until a permanent replacement is found.
Benefit 3: Interim Leaders Inject a Fresh Perspective
When faced with a leadership vacancy, it can be tempting to seek a like-for-like replacement. However, this may not always be the best strategy for your organization’s growth. Interim leaders bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that can drive your organization forward.
Interim executive leaders’ unbiased viewpoints can identify opportunities for improvement and provide valuable insights that shape the direction of your executive search. This can assure that the long-term leader your organization eventually selects is well-suited to meet your organization’s evolving needs.
Benefit 4: Take the Time for a Thorough Search Process
The departure of a leader can put even the most experienced healthcare leadership teams into a tailspin. The healthcare industry’s unrelenting speed and progression are far from conducive to long, thoughtful decision-making processes. However, while immediate action is crucial, taking the right actions is even more critical.
When a leader leaves, your organization faces a challenge. However, you also have a unique opportunity to consider your organization’s needs, assess your trajectory, and determine what kind of leadership will move your healthcare organization to the place it wants to be.
Rushing through the healthcare executive search process can lead to suboptimal hires that may not align with your organization’s future goals. Fortunately, an interim executive provides the stability needed to keep things running smoothly while enabling your organization to conduct a thorough and deliberate search for a permanent leader.
Benefit 5: Minimize Speed Bumps When Onboarding New Leadership
Transitions at the executive level can significantly impact the entire organization. Without proper guidance, a new leader might grow frustrated, struggle to get buy-in from tenured staff and leaders, or even mistakenly disrupt ongoing initiatives and cause friction with existing teams.
An interim executive acts as a bridge, assuring a smooth transition between the teams in your organization and the new permanent hire. Interim leaders can help the new hire acclimate to your organizational culture, understand your organization’s current projects, and feel more welcomed. This continuity minimizes disruptions and facilitates a more seamless integration of new leadership.
Build Your Organization’s Future on a Strong Foundation
The bottom line of interim executive leaders is that they offer far more than a temporary fix for healthcare organizations. They act as a bridge, keeping your initiatives on track in the face of challenges and roadblocks, ultimately helping your organization’s teams carry on with minimal disruption. Collectively, the benefits of working with an interim executive set the stage for your organization’s short- and long-term success.
If your organization is facing a rapid change in leadership, an interim executive might be right for you. To learn more about how interim leadership can manage the present so you can focus on the future, get in touch with Kirby Bates Associates’ team of interim healthcare executives today.