Thriving as an Interim or Acting Leader
If asked to step into temporary leadership, should you accept the position? And, if you do, how can you set yourself up for success?
While interim and acting leadership is quite common, very little, if any, guidance exists for these positions. Use the resources below to help you prepare and negotiate conditions for success as an interim leader.
This toolkit was developed in conjunction with Surviving and Thriving as an Interim Leader.
Access the Position and Negotiate to Ensure Success
![Interim Leaders: To Accept or Not: Professional and Personal Considerations A woman and a man walk past the outline of a person sitting in a chair.](https://www.aamc.org/sites/default/files/profdev-leadership-development-interim-leader-accept-or-not-accept-021820.jpg)
To Accept or Not: Professional and Personal Considerations
Use this checklist to help you think through the implications of taking on an interim or acting role.
Define Your Role for Success
Prepare for a conversation with leadership about the expectations for the interim or acting role. Record your thoughts and questions to include in conversation with leadership.
Considerations for Researchers
![Interim Leaders: Special Considerations for Researchers A man takes notes as a woman uses blocks to illustrate her points.](https://www.aamc.org/sites/default/files/profdev-leadership-development-interim-leader-researcher-considerations-021820.jpg)
Make Provisions for Your Lab to Ensure Success
Use this to prepare for a conversation with leadership about keeping your lab and research on track while filling an interim or acting role.
Considerations for Clinicians
Assessing the Position and Task Shifting
Develop a strategy to retain your clinical reputation and remain accountable to the physicians who refer patients to you while filling an interim or acting role.
Disadvantages of the Interim Role
![Interim Leaders: Disadvantages of the Interim Role Man stares at tree of arrows.](https://www.aamc.org/sites/default/files/profdev-leadership-development-interim-leader-disadvantages-021820.jpg)
Mitigating the Challenges
Use this checklist to help you think through how you will approach your new role and how you can build support.
Advantages to the Interim Role
![Interim Leaders: Advantages of the Interim Role A woman sits at a desk and stacks blocks.](https://www.aamc.org/sites/default/files/profdev-leadership-development-interim-leader-advantages-021820.jpg)
Embracing the Role and Thriving
Use this guide to prepare yourself to move the work of your school, hospital, or institution forward.
Transition Planning
Transitioning Out of the Interim Role or into a Permanent Role
With this checklist, think through the transition to your previous position or to the permanent leadership position.
![Leading, Recruiting, and Surviving and Thriving as an Interim or Acting Leader Publication covers for Leading, Recruiting, and Surviving and Thriving as an Interim or Acting Leader.](https://www.aamc.org/sites/default/files/profdev-leadership-development-leading-recruiting-thriving-publications-121919.png)
Want to know more?
Our publication Surviving and Thriving as an Interim or Acting Leader is available for purchase through the AAMC store.