A-Z of Interim: P is for…Personal Development

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Image: © Alain Lacroix | Dreamstime.com

September 2016. A leadership workshop. I was having severe second thought syndrome. What seemed like a really great idea when I was taking a break between assignments, wasn’t such hot stuff now that I had a demanding client and a burgeoning task-list. Can I actually afford to use a billable day for myself?  Why am I sitting here when there are multiple, more important work issues needing my time? I actually paid for this? 

Sound familiar?  I’ve often remarked that work as an interim means fast-paced days with relatively little opportunity for reflection. Personal development? Well, surely that’s for people with time on their hands. Erm, actually…no.

As an interim, you choose a path that means you are your own currency. So stay current! People buy you on the basis of your experience, but they also hire you on the value you can bring to the assignment. Trotting out tired ways of working and outmoded thinking no longer cuts it in today’s working world.  That sort of old-school behaviour went the same way as the old-boy network! The harsh reality is that you will need to stay on top of developments in your industry, role or specialism if you want to thrive commercially. You will, as the Buddhists say ‘be called on to expand’. So why not invest in yourself to extend your professional reach?

Here are the top 3 reasons why personal development isn’t optional:

  • Deepening your knowledge, honing your skills and building additional expertise makes you marketable in a way that breathes success, not stasis.  Standing still is going backwards!
  • Broadening your interests to related fields can bring an entirely new network into your orbit, and the opportunity to meet new clients. Widening your network pays dividends if you maximise time building new connections and maintaining existing ones. 
  • And finally…using your time wisely between assignments can give you an edge in interview – and also helps to prevent desperation from setting in, should you find yourself adrift in sluggish interim seas…

What do you think?  Is personal development an optional extra, or a wise investment of time? Answers on the blog, please.

 

 

A-Z of Interim: O is for…Opportunity

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It was all supposed to be going so swimmingly…

2016 brought a new assignment, a wedding (my own) and a cross-channel commute home. It also brought additional stress and a severe case of shingles as my immune system finally called time on the frenetic interim lifestyle.

I said ‘sayonara’ to the assignment.  November was spent lying in a darkened room channelling a look that was somewhere between The Terminator and a deranged raccoon on account of the red eyes and anti-itch powder. Not exactly client-facing!  

Fellow workaholics will realise that enforced bed rest is not my thing. Neither is being ill. But this was an entirely different matter. There was no option but to endure, and no way to see an upside. Upside-down more likely!  And yet…there is always an opportunity to learn from the circumstances you find yourself in.

Henry Ford said it best. ‘Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently’. As the meds kicked in and my convalescence wore on, I had ample opportunity to think.  Which is why I am spending the first quarter of 2017 acclimatising to a new culture (Belgium), learning a new language (Dutch) and looking to base my business (and my assignments) closer to home.

As interims, one of our superpowers has to be that we can craft opportunity out of a piece of string and some sticky tape. That’s called change management.  Being flexible and open to changing circumstances means we can course correct when we need to. That’s called being entrepreneurial. And finally…knowing when to pause and when to act. Well, that’s commonly known as having Plan B. 

How do you define opportunity?  How do you deal with failure?  Answers and comments via the blog, please…

N is for…New Year’s Resolutions

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If you are one of the estimated 2 million people who participated in Dry January, you are probably relieved that we are well into the New Year and that you can begin quaffing once more. If you are an interim still looking for an assignment, perhaps there is not so much good cheer as there is fear that a sluggish market means you never work again.

Personally, I find the New Year a really good time for professional reflection. My own ‘new’ year usually starts in December – as that is the time that I’m wrapping up projects, and setting financial goals and business resolutions for the 12 months ahead.  So far, so good…except that this time round, pressing personal commitments meant December and January were a write-off, and I was unable to kick-start my grand plans for 2016.

Which is why I find myself in February contemplating my working life and feeling somewhat as though I’m several steps behind. Of course, moaning about it, isn’t going to propel me forward any faster. So, below is a taster of the action I’m taking.  I hope this inspires those of you who might also be experiencing the February funk:

Goal Clarity. I’m using this time to be really clear on my goals for 2016. As a career interim, I’m pretty well established, but it’s still helpful to know where I want to go. I’ve set myself an earnings target (see my previous post M is for Money ), and some non-negotiables – i.e. location, type of role, working patterns, etc. This way, I can easily evaluate any opportunities which arise – saying  ‘yes’ to the ones that are a good fit, and saying’no’ with confidence, but without regret to those that don’t.

Networking. Also known as getting out and about!  I am a great believer that networking should be a compulsory subject in high school, but for those of us who only learnt this business skill later in life, here’s the word: never underestimate the power of a good conversation. If you have been in regular contact with your interim providers or former clients, then this shouldn’t be that hard a task.  But if you are stepping into an interim role for the first time, it can be a bit daunting. Please resist your introvert urges to hide under the duvet! Reach out to providers and people in your network, attend industry events. Talk, ask questions. Be open and approachable – assignments can be found if you tackle your search in the right way.

Brand coherence.  Think you are a person and not a brand?  Think again. Clients who buy interims purchase more than what’s on your CV.  You want that fabulous shiny new assignment?  Then walk your talk and be the person they want to hire. This month, I’m using my time to refresh my website, update my blog and make sure that my social media profiles (linked-in, twitter , about.me) not only reflect who I am professionally, but also why clients should engage my services.

Action is the antidote to despair. Focused activity might not help you find an assignment immediately, but consistency of momentum has a funny way of generating luck.

Have you made any professional resolutions this year?  How do you deal with downtime? Comments and answers on the blog, please.

M is for…Money

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Warning: Today’s blog might be slightly controversial.  After all, I’m talking about money, which is nearly always a loaded subject, but no more so, when it comes to negotiating fees for your next interim assignment.

Whether you are an experienced interim or just starting out, having ‘the talk’ about day rates, length of contract and expenses can either be a necessary evil or a very necessary negotiation. But make no mistake, it is a negotiation! Of course, it all begins with knowing what you are worth and what the client is prepared to pay.

Colleagues in permanent roles are often staggered by interim day rates – perceiving the interim to be an expensive organisational option.  I admit, this career path does have it’s financial perks, but here’s the thing….

As an interim, I’ve said sayonara to job security. On average, I can expect to work for 9 months of the year – long term contracts are not always a shoe-in!  I am frequently required to work away from home – at distances which mean a daily commute isn’t feasible, so several nights in a hotel are part of the gig. That’s time away from my family and friends not to mention home admin, laundry and the like.

If I take holiday or sick leave, it isn’t paid for by my employer.  Neither is down-time. Any career development is funded by me (assuming I have the opportunity in-between assignments).  Lets face it, leisure time is in short supply when you are actually working!

Most assignments have a break clause that favours the client, so as an interim I bear the risk and uncertainty of a project which could change scope or be canned mid-way through the assignment if sponsorship changes client-side.

For many clients professional indemnity insurance is a pre-condition of signing a contract, and then there are accountants’ fees and other general operating costs which go with interim territory. All expenses that need to be factored into the day rate you set.

So, how can you respond to clients or critics who question the ‘cost’ of interim, without necessarily understanding the value?  Here are my top tips:

Tip #1: Be really clear about your value proposition as an interim. If price is a reflection of value, make sure that what you offer to a prospective client (skill set, experience, specific expertise) delivers something they cannot find from within the organisation.  The key here is to demonstrate why they should hire you, and why you are the best at what you do.  It’s not enough to be average when you are asking for an above-average day rate.

Tip #2: Know the marketplace. Day rates in Investment Banks are not the same as those in Local Authorities, so be realistic about where you are pitching price-wise. It’s worth talking to interim providers to get a feel for what the going rate is, but if you are making a direct approach to a client, don’t be shy in asking them what their budget is. Actually, best to understand if they actually have a budget!  Within reason, never be tempted to simply lower your rate because the client/interim provider asks you to. All this means is that they can’t sell you at the rate you are charging, not that you aren’t worth it. Those who insist on ‘cheap’, will always be cheap (and probably don’t understand interim), so don’t short-change yourself. Exit gracefully.

Tip #3: Be prepared to negotiate.  I know, this seems like a complete contradiction to Tip #2 but consider this. If you are too rigid on price, it may be a long wait between assignments. Unless you are a leading industry expert, with clients beating down your door, every conversation you have about fees will be a negotiation. Personally, I have in mind a ‘rate range’ which flexes depending on the assignment.  There is no upper limit!  So, for example, shorter and riskier assignments carry a higher day rate than those which guarantee 12-18 months of work. You could, if appropriate also negotiate on expenses and working from home to compensate for a slightly lower day rate.

Money is simply paper and metal.  In the UK we are culturally programmed to avoid conversations about awkward subjects like money. I say it’s time to get over that. In the end, you will only get what you have the courage to ask for.

How do you deal with day rate conversations?  Do you have any negotiating tips for other interims? Answers on the blog, please. 

L is for…LinkedIn

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If you’ve been following this series, you will know that social media savvy is a key skill-set for the 21st century interim. Now more than ever, your network determines your net worth.

LinkedIn is one of the older social networks, but they’ve evolved to become the premier network for business professionals.  A recent study by US-based think-tank, Pew Research, found that LinkedIn is ‘the only major social media platform for which usage rates are higher among 30- to 49-year-olds than among 18- to 29-year-olds’. Clearly, using digital resources such LinkedIn isn’t just something reserved for graduates and second jobbers, it’s a must if you are serious about carving out a successful career as an interim.

So here are some top tips:

Tip #1: Your picture is worth a thousand words…

Or... in the case of LinkedIn, well worth the number opportunities it can generate. You are 11 times more likely to get a profile view if you include a photo. And, while you don’t necessarily need to go for the traditional head shot (mug shots are to be avoided) make sure that your photo is well composed and reasonably up-to-date. The point is that your should create a visually appealing image, which conveys the message you’d like to send to prospective clients and connections. It should say ‘hire me’, not ‘hide from me’.

Tip #2: Think of LinkedIn as a shop window…

British reserve won’t cut it here!  Those hiring want to know what you are good at, so use your LinkedIn profile to showcase those skills, activities and recommendations that you can’t fit on your CV. Need more convincing? Members who list their skills on LinkedIn receive an average of 13 times more profile views than those who don’t. Polish up your profile by building a comprehensive list of professional skills.  Tell your network about your achievements, projects and awards.  A well crafted profile makes people want to know more. So, show more…

Tip #3: Connect with care…

I will say this only once!  LinkedIn should not be confused with Twitter or Facebook.  It is not a popularity contest to see who has the most connections.  Randomly connecting to people you don’t know is a complete no-no, and hugely irritating for the connections you have targeted. Just as you would take your time to build connections in the real world, focus on connecting with people you trust for professional support.  Personally I don’t LinkIn to people I don’t know or haven’t worked with in some professional capacity. There are a few exceptions – other professionals in the same network as me or interim providers or business connections who make time to write a personal message.  However, I regularly refuse requests from transactional recruiters who are too lazy to find good candidates for themselves and simply want to mine my connections.  You actually think I’m going to say yes to a spurious, low-grade opportunity and open my address book to you? One word. Block!

Tip #4: Be seen and heard…

If you are serious about using LinkedIn as a tool to raise your professional profile then, like any other social media platform, you need to be active. Yes, even when you have landed that next dream gig! This could be as simple as keeping your contact details up to date, or making sure that your latest assignment is described in detail.  Where possible, get fresh recommendations as this allows interim providers and prospective clients to get a positive view of your strengths and capabilities.  And, feel free to share interesting articles or join a discussion in one of the many groups that exist.  LinkedIn helps to create a professional digital footprint, which builds your personal brand – vital if you are a self-employed interim.

How do you use LinkedIn?  Has it helped or hindered you in finding that next assignment?  Comments on the blog, please.

K is for…KLOUT

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Do you have Klout?   And no, I’m not referring to that meeting where you went 6 rounds with a particularly difficult CEO.  As regular readers of this blog will know, the 21st century Interim has a good grasp of all things social media. So, once you’ve mastered the basics of Twitter, Linked-In and Facebook, it’s time to get really serious about your online presence.

Founded in 2008, KLOUT is a website and mobile app that uses social media analytics to rank it’s users according to their online social influence. Eh? Social Media Analytics?  Yes people, that’s the technical term for the practice of gathering and analyzing the data from those clever algorithms which power search engines like Google. It’s most commonly used by brands to identify customer preference, in order to find out what they like, and then sell more stuff!

Klout uses analytics to measure the size of a user’s social media network.  A social ‘aggregator’, it works by correlating the content created and measuring how other users interact with that content. In other words, how influential you are online. Your ‘Klout Score’ is a number from 1 to 100. In case you think this isn’t really important, here are some other numbers:

  • Over 200,000 businesses use Klout across the globe
  • Each day Klout analyses around 12 billion social signals
  • There are over 620 million ‘scored’ users. That’s the population of China’s top 15 cities!

Klout is rapidly becoming the global standard by which both brands and individuals measure their social influence. So how does this relate to being an interim?  Well, every time you post on Linked-In, enter a search term in Google or tweet, you are creating social media content.  So far, so Google+…However, it’s not just your contribution to social media that matters – increasingly your influence – i.e. your Klout Score – is an important factor in your job search. Creating and sharing content is a means of marketing your brand as an interim.  But, by providing useful content you are effectively increasing your visibility and establishing thought leadership.  And engaging with your online network can put you front of the queue when opportunity comes knocking!

For example, my Klout scores indicate that I am in the top 1.0% of people talking about Consulting, the top 0.2% of people mentioning Management, and the top 1.2% of people whose topic du jour is Leadership.  As an interim specializing in Transformation, it’s important that I’m seen as an expert in the fields that matter.  The app also lets me see which of my tweets and blogs have garnered the most interactions, so I can keep track of the content that is genuinely connecting with people in my network.

Savvy companies are also actively using social media as a means to vet potential candidates. Yes, now really is the time to unfriend your former client on Facebook and restrict all professional connections to Linked-In!   Of course, an arbitrary number isn’t necessarily going to indicate whether you are worthier than another person with similar skills and background, but it can give you the edge.  In life and in business, we all want to know whether the people we interact with (and their digital persona) are credible and can be trusted.

As with all internet based tools, the decision whether to use Klout is entirely up to you. I find it useful, but I’d love to know what you think?  Comments on the blog, please.

J is for…Jobhunt

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Being an interim has definitely got it’s perks, but there is one inevitable aspect of this lifestyle choice that must be addressed. Job hunting. Unlike those colleagues who reside in the world of permanent work, interims often find themselves in one of two modes: 1) Working like a whirling dervish to deliver on assignment…or …2) not working, but actively looking for the next assignment so you can deliver like a whirling dervish…

Realistically, you should expect to have anything between 3 and 5 months as down time between interim assignments. Of course, if you’ve been following this series you will know that building and maintaining good client relationships is vital if you are to maximise your income potential and avoid prolonged periods on the bench.

In spite of this, there may well be times when the transition from one project to another is protracted and serious searching becomes the requirement if you are to keep yourself in beer money.  Here are my top tips:

1. Job-hunting is a job!  You wouldn’t dream of showing up late to a client meeting wearing inappropriate clothing. Just because you’re back at home, there is no excuse to show up late to your laptop wearing pyjamas!  Schedule time to job-hunt.  Decide up-front how much you want to invest in the process, diarise it, and stick to it.  It’s far too easy to get distracted by the laundry or the gardening or Candy Crush..that way madness lies!

A sensible rule of thumb is to set aside 4 hours, 3 days per week.   This gives you a spare 2 days to schedule meetings or interviews, and sufficient time to make calls, adjust your CV and reach out to your network via email. Of course, if another pattern works for you, then do that!

2. Focus your efforts.  A week flies by, especially if you are waiting to find the next piece of work. As time goes on without a contract in the offing, you might increasingly feel pressure to find something, anything.  It’s tempting to want to pursue every opportunity you spot, but being discerning pays dividends. Ernest Hemingway urged us ‘never to mistake motion for action’ and he’s right – just because you are doing lots of things, doesn’t mean they are the right things.

Focused activity will yield results, but you must be very clear on what you are looking for, and what you will say yes to.  If Enterprise Architecture is your bag, for goodness sake stop applying for jobs as a sous chef! Same things goes for blanket bombing your CV to every interim provider in town.  You are a professional interim, not a mailshot. Target your search and build strong relationships with a small number of providers who operate in your field. And be realistic. A very small percentage of the job market for interims is advertised.  Using your personal and business network wisely can be a good way to be in the know when the right thing comes along.

3. Practice intense self care. Desperation isn’t a good look on anyone. Extended periods of unemployment can make you feel undervalued and underconfident, so it’s important that you build in ‘me-time’ when you are job searching. Repeated rejection is demoralising, and you need to be strong of mind and heart to persist – and ultimately – to secure the next piece of work.   A good support network helps, but using the additional time  to do something fun can lift your spirits, help you maintain equilibrium, and make you appear more rounded in interviews. Personally, I relish my down time – in my 7 years as an interim, I’ve been able to renovate a crumbling wreck, pursue my creative hobbies (printmaking and pottery) and begin training for a 10k race.  My running ability is totally remedial but at least it gets the blood flowing to my brain while I’m pounding the pavement!

Job hunting can be tough, but it needn’t be tiresome. How do you do it?  I’d love to know what your top tips are.  Answers on the blog please!

Lisa Bondesio is a career interim. She She delivers common sense and change consultancy to clients in times of transition. When she is not working she can be found on the coastal reaches swinging a sledgehammer!

I is for…Interim

© Vlue | Dreamstime.com - Rubiks Cube On Open Book PhotoIf you’ve been checking out my twitter feed, you will know that I recently had the extraordinary pleasure of being awarded ‘UK Interim of the Year 2014’.  Apart from abject surprise (I was in a shortlist of 20 accomplished nominees), followed by very real excitement (I won, I won!) it’s now back to reality. Still, I’ve spent the last few days thinking hard about what makes an interim.

I’ve been doing this now for almost 7 years, and while I’m always honoured if clients ask me to go permanent, interim is a deliberate choice. It gives me flexibility, the opportunity to work with multiple organisations and – assignments allowing – a fairly decent income bar the odd tax bill!  However, it’s not for everyone, so if you are considering this as a career path, here’s my advice:

1. Look before you leap!

It can be tempting to think of interim as a ‘stop gap’ when facing redundancy, or a change of scene if you are bored with your current employment. Resist the urge! Interim Management is a well developed discipline and it’s not for dilettantes. It can be very rewarding, but it can also be demanding, demoralising and difficult. Career interims are used to having gaps between assignment, and while such breaks may be necessary – see my post ‘H is for Holiday’  –  you need to be prepared to work hard to secure that elusive first assignment. And the second… and the one after that. You get the picture!  You also need a sufficient financial cushion to allow for bench time, especially if you are trying to establish yourself.

2. Be in the know!

It’s worth talking to interim providers, and those in the know. Here in the UK,  providers such as Alium Partners  and industry bodies like the Institute of Interim Management (IMA) offer courses on how to market yourself and what to consider when becoming an interim. Remember, when you become self employed, you will need an accountant to help you navigate the IR35 legislation, you will most certainly need professional indemnity insurance, and you definitely need marketing or web expertise.  Unless you are a super human with high capability in all these areas, you will have to invest in outside help. Getting your teenager to help you with twitter doesn’t count!

3. Expect the unexpected!

As an interim, the only constant is change.  Be prepared for client briefs to be vague.  For golden opportunities to be less than shiny close-up. For the assignment of your dreams to vanish because the sponsor leaves the organisation or they get bought by someone else who doesn’t see the need for interim. You will be expected to be problem solver, multi-tasker, and therapist on the Monday you start.  Tuesday you will be expected to make and take the decisions that no one else wants to… Hours can be long and clients can be fractious. You will have to meet organisational resistance with persistence, stakeholder cynicism with compassion. And you will always need to know when to exit the building.  I know, it’s sounding like the North Face already!

However, like many interims out there, for me the positive aspects almost always outweigh the negative. Being an interim means you can be an objective guide, helping management navigate knotty organisational problems. You bring experience of multiple organisations and specialist skills to companies who genuinely need your help.  And you get the satisfaction of knowing you’ve made a real difference.

 

 

H is for…Holiday

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In the life of all interims there comes a moment when you really need to down tools, step away from the laptop and take an enforced break.   I say enforced, because if you are like most of the career interims I know, down-time is usually reserved for finding that precious next assignment. Holidays are spent catching up on admin and updating your social media, not spending time feeling the sand between your toes. Oh horrors, did she mention the H-word?

Of course, there are several schools of thought here. Some interims view holidays the same way they would raw oysters – an experience to be gotten through in one gulp.  Personally, I’m a firm believer in the power of pause – both during and between assignments. Reaching burn-out because you’ve done an 18 month stretch of 18 hour days is life-shortening, never mind career-limiting. Not good for you, or your clients!   

So, how can you make the most of your holiday – without going into serious meltdown because you’ve been on your surf board, instead of a job board! Here are a few of my top tips:

Step away from the smartphone!

In an ever connected world, it’s tempting to scan emails, text and update social media on an ongoing basis. So in order to switch off, switch off! Literally. The world is not going to stop revolving because you haven’t checked your voice-mail.  Trust me on that one!  Still, you may need to be contactable at least part of the time you’re on holiday, so ration yourself to a short period at the beginning and the end of your away days to check in and check up. Make sure that your clients know how to get hold of you in a real emergency. It goes without saying that your ‘out of office’ should also be up to date!

Happiness is an app called Hootsuite!

I use an app called Hootsuite to schedule tweets and blog updates when I’m on holiday. It’s a social media management tool that works with social media channels like Twitter, WordPress, Google+ and Facebook.  Useful when you are on assignment, even more useful when you would rather be seeing the sights instead of checking out Linked-In. 

Mind your Ps & Qs!

Now, I don’t mean etiquette here… for me, holidays are valuable opportunities to prioritise ‘Peace and Quiet’ – the chance to set aside some time for reflection and planning.  I usually get my best insights when going for a solitary walk on the beach. But whether it’s sleep, sunbathing or sipping cocktails in Bora-Bora that does it for you – relaxation is a powerful tool to recharge your thinking, as well as your interim battery!

So, what do you think? Are holidays heaven or hell?  Answers on the blog, please…

Lisa Bondesio is a career interim and founder of Chiridion Consulting. She will be spending this summer on holiday.

G is for…Gorilla-sized goals

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If you can answer the question: ‘Where does a gorilla sit?’ then you probably get the reference in the title of this blog.  More on primate hierarchy later, but first things first...

This blog is about goals.  Gorilla-sized goals to be precise.  Big. Hairy. And a little bit scary.  Well, as an interim, if you don’t have a goal, how will you set direction for your business and set yourself up for success.   You may no longer work in a conventional sense within an organisation, but that doesn’t mean you should chuck out sound planning principles when you are no longer a corporate wage slave.

And that is exactly my point.  Goal setting helps you to plan for a number of eventualities.  Unbridled success (yes, it has been known to happen), a period of down-time, a sudden shift in your industry or working abroad.  Having a goal and working towards it means you are more likely to succeed because every decision you make, and every assignment you take should move you closer to the realisation of that goal.  More importantly it helps you to stay in charge of your own destiny, which is, after all one of the reasons you became an interim, isn’t it?

So here are my top tips for goal setting:

Focus feeds success.  Interim is your livelihood, so be clear and precise about what you want.  Yes, it seems obvious, but if you don’t set goals, how on earth are you going to know how to succeed and whether you have when you get there.

 Big it up, banana!  Yes, really!  It’s perfectly possible to super-size your goal.  Whether that is to earn a six figure salary within twelve months, or to grow your client base by 50%, or network 10 times a month.  The type of goal (animal, mineral, vegetable) isn’t really important, the fact that it takes you outside your comfort zone is.  As the late Steve Jobs, Apple CEO once said: ‘I want to put a ding in the universe’.  That’s a pretty ambitious goal by anyone’s standards, but if your own goals run to something a little more modest, that’s fine too.  It’s the stretch that matters.

Feed and water regularly.  The one thing I know for sure about goals is that they change over time.  What you might aspire to at the start of an interim career, can look and feel very different when you are more established. So it’s important to take your goals out of their cage periodically and examine them.  Are they still relevant to your industry, client base, life-style?  If not, there’s no shame in retiring them for a shiny new set.  Personally, I review my goals about once a quarter.  Extended plane or train time usually works best for me.

And finally…for those of you wanting to know where a gorilla sits?  Exactly where it likes!  So, if you’d like to be king of the interim jungle, get busy with those goals.

Lisa Bondesio is the founder of Chiridion Consulting. An interim and consultant she provides common sense to corporate clients in times of transition. Her personal gorilla sized goal is to be able to run a marathon by the end of the summer!