The first week sets the tone for the whole assignment. A good interim leader does three things before changing anything at all.
Listen before acting
Twenty conversations in five days, from the board to the newest team member. The goal is not to collect opinions but to find the two or three issues everybody already knows about.
Name the exit
Agree the end date and the successor plan in week one. It changes how the team works with you, and it keeps everyone honest about what has to be built.
TL
Tomas Lindqvist
Has stepped in as interim CFO or COO eleven times. Agrees the exit date before the start date.
