Voluntary or not, the departure of the CEO or ED creates a sense of loss, a rise in uncertainty, and understandable anxiety about the future at all levels in every organization.  Experienced, creative interim leadership during this period is crucial. Appointing a stand-in manager from within the organization seldom works optimally and may encourage future conflicts with the new CEO. Few Board members will volunteer to step forward to fill a second full time job. The answer is to hire Non-Profit Transitions.  Our company utilizes the interim period to create positive organizational change. We will provide non-profit executives with years of experience to assist you in making your transition period "a time of opportunity".

How Can Interim Periods Lead to New Insights?

Many Boards rush into hiring a new CEO, and opt for a “holding action” until the new professional arrives. There is extensive evidence that an unhurried, structured transition period, with critical self-examination, is a better route and produces positive lasting results. It will ensure that the new CEO, hired with careful selection criteria, will have a maximized chance of success for the future of the organization.

A change in leadership should always prompt a basic re-assessment of the organization:

• its strengths and weaknesses,
• its mission and goals,
• its responsibilities to stakeholders, and
• its expectations and demands for the new CEO.

Our company's principals and associates have assisted numerous Boards to conduct critical analyses and take action to produce better leadership outcomes.

Why Is Change During Interim Periods A Good Idea?

To do good work, non-profit organizations need to be sustainable. The best time to undertake the tough work needed to secure sustainability is during the critical executive transition period. Non-Profit Transitions is a specialist at the 3R’s: reorganize, renegotiate and revitalize. We have invaluable experience in creating and implementing plans to re-position non-profit organizations with the POWER to face the inevitable challenges of the future.

What Is A Critical Action Plan?

Critical functions are organizational operations that are absolutely essential to running a high quality, competitive, and stable operation. NPT will determine changes necessary in these critical functions and evaluate them in a Critical Action Plan aimed at completion before the new CEO arrives.

Why Is Improving Board Governance Essential?

It’s not uncommon to discover that one of the contributing factors in executive turnover is Board/staff relations. As many as one in five serving CEO’s cite  troubled Board relations as a major negative influence in organizational  performance. Some non-profit Boards drift into poor governance habits which create staff confusion, encourage substandard performance, and even tolerate fiduciary abuses. In order to ensure successful transition Board governance also needs to be re-examined, and the executive transition period is an excellent time for such critical self-examination.  Having served as ED's, Board members, Chairman of BOD's, and consultants, we are governance experts.

Is Establishing an Effective Board-CEO Relationship at the Beginning Important?

Every incoming CEO deserves to succeed. But success requires preparation and execution of a “leadership transition support plan” enumerating how the Board and staff intend to support its new leader. We will assist your organization in preparing a plan, and  during the first weeks and months, monitor performance objectively and make helpful suggestions.  As experienced former CEO’s, we will also serve as a sounding board for the new CEO during the entry and adjustment period. We will offer helpful advice and provide a confidential, objective, and sympathetic ear.

Getting Started Questions

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Non-Profit Transitions
617-501-5471
cdame@nptransitions.com