I guess it is a bit like being a marathon runner preparing for a race several months ahead. The build up is hard work and fun but the actual run is over relatively quickly leaving a slight feeling of emptiness or anti-climax once the objective has been achieved.
However it is vitally important that the career interim manager learns to deal with these feelings and starts to prepare for the departure day weeks in advance when the end of the assignment is in sight. Here is some simple advice in preparing how to exit an assignment in a professional manner even if you do not have an assignment to follow on.
* During the assigment clarify the likely end date
* Work to this target with focus and attention to detail
* Market your interim management skills to other potential clients
* Ensure the organisation/process you leave behind is a testament to your skills
* Do not try and elongate the assigment beyond its natural course – your client will thank you for this in the long term. They may even ask you back at a later date to carry out a further assigment. Remember it is over 30 times easier to get more work from an existing client than it is to find new clients.
* You will know when the assigment is over often before your client – when all set objectives have been acheived
* Ask for a reference or case study which can be used to promote your skills to other clients
* Always leave on a high note.
* Be professional and courteous throughout the exit period
* Keep in regular contact once you have left the client organisation eg. courtesy telephone calls, christmas cards, dinners etc.
Visit Paul Wilson's interim management blog.
