Interim Executive Manager, People Transformation and Capability to address leadership and cultural challenges.
The Brief
A regional healthcare provider in Victoria, required an Interim Executive Manager for People Transformation and Capability to address pressing leadership and cultural challenges. Following a significant organisational review, the organisation identified the need for an independent and credible leader to drive cultural transformation and align behaviours with newly developed leadership frameworks.
The organisation faced a unique challenge due to its regional location, which limited access to senior talent with the requisite expertise. The role was scoped as a three-month interim assignment with the following priorities:
– Designing and implementing a leadership transformation programme, particularly for clinical staff.
– Coaching senior leaders to adopt a “leader first, clinical expert second” mindset.
– Supporting cultural shifts identified in the organisational review through workshops and engagement strategies.
The assignment had the potential for extension based on the appointee’s impact and alignment with the organisations long-term goals.
Increase in General Management Skills
According to the American Management Association, only 14% of businesses consider themselves “well prepared” to handle a sudden loss in senior management. Add to that the fact that it takes at least four months to fill an executive role, and an Interim Executive experienced in operations makes a lot of sense!
Increase in Customer Experience Skills
These days experience is everything. What truly makes for a good experience? Speed. Convenience. Consistency. Friendliness. And human touch. Our Interim Executives deliver a great experience while improving your customer experience!
Increase in People & Culture Skills
Organisations are constantly changing as they respond to internal and external pressures. Continual process improvement can enable team engagement and lead to growth. Interim Executives bring fresh eyes and effective industry best practice to the execution.
Increase in Data Analytics
Complex challenges require critical thinking and in the age of information-overwhelm it is imperative to have analytical minds at the table. These skills range across finance, data science, systems and more. An Interim Executive can be the right person to optimise your inputs to maximise your output.
The Process
Future Leadership™ implemented a comprehensive and targeted search strategy to identify the right candidate:
– Search Process: Conducted a targeted search across Australia and New Zealand, engaging with 12 high-calibre candidates through our interim associate network and healthcare sector expertise.
– Shortlisting: Within five days, shortlisted three exceptional candidates with proven experience in cultural transformation and leadership development within healthcare settings.
– Key Appointment: Selected an executive with a proven track record as a Chief Operating Officer and Head of Nursing, as well as extensive experience leading complex healthcare organisations. This Executive People Capability and Operational leader brought the strategic and operational expertise needed to drive cultural transformation, combined with a deep understanding of clinical environments and leadership frameworks.
The chosen interim executive was well-positioned to address the challenges of the role and deliver impactful results.
Emerging Capabilities
Strategy and Purpose
Develops and leads strategy for the function/organisation, taking a broad and long-term perspective. Understands and considers context. Communicates and gains buy-in to the function/organisation goals, direction and vision, promoting change initiatives.
Culture and Engagement
Fosters a positive culture, creating a sense of belonging and inclusiveness. Creates an environment that encourages diverse perspectives and facilitates a psychologically safe environment.
Sustainability, Ethics and Integrity
Prioritises the environment in making decisions and leading others. Operates with integrity and aligns self to a high standard of social, cultural and professional standards of conduct. . Adheres to moral and ethical principles. Draws on values to inform behaviour.
Communication and Influence
Articulates messages with clarity and impact to build understanding, inspire action, persuade others and enable information exchange. Considers the audience and draws on different styles to create impact.
Organisational Capability
Understands the organisation's future requirements and identifies opportunities to build potential across the organisation. Seeks opportunities to develop other people and takes appropriate action to address skill gaps in others.
The Outcome
The appointed Interim Executive Manager for People Transformation and Capability quickly delivered results, demonstrating strong performance that led to two contract extensions and a total nine-month tenure. Key outcomes included:
Leadership Development:
– Designed and delivered a leadership transformation programme, fostering accountability and strategic thinking among senior clinical staff.
– Implemented a 360-degree feedback system, enabling leaders to receive actionable insights and align behaviours with organisational goals.
Cultural Shifts:
– Facilitated workshops and one-to-one coaching sessions, driving a cultural shift towards more collaborative and respectful interactions among clinical and non-clinical teams.
– Successfully engaged medical staff with tailored workshops and high-level strategies, addressing their unique expectations and challenges.
Capability Enhancement:
– Strengthened leadership frameworks to support long-term organisational goals.
– Developed a clear communication strategy to cascade cultural and leadership changes across the organisation, ensuring buy-in from all stakeholders.
Future Leadership’s™ search ensured that 12 candidates were engaged during the process, with three shortlisted for final consideration within five days. Originally planned as a three-month interim assignment, the role was extended twice, delivering significant cultural and operational outcomes in a regional healthcare setting.
Future Leadership™ remains committed to supporting healthcare organisations in overcoming leadership and cultural challenges with tailored, high-impact interim solutions.
