We’ve all been there. A leader at a private club announces their departure and — even in the best-thought-out scenarios — a cloud of stress settles over members and staff who suddenly find themselves rudderless. The Board is immediately faced with the challenge of finding a replacement while also maintaining the club’s culture, ensuring the smooth operation of all departments and keeping future goals and projects on track. A professionally managed national search typically takes three to four months to complete, and that doesn’t account for relocation.
In these scenarios, the hospitality organizations who come out ahead are those who recognize the value of providing exceptional interim leadership to support both their teams and their stakeholders.
An experienced Interim Leader knows what needs to be done, when. They know how to engage, monitor and motivate the existing team — from food and beverage to the golf course to accounting — often because they’ve “been there, done that.” It takes an experienced, seasoned and successful club General Manager who has supervised these roles and overseen all aspects of club operations to keep the organization functioning at a high level.
A skilled Interim Leader knows how the structure works. They report to the Board, enabling it to function as intended while addressing existing problems and preventing new issues from arising. They set your club up for future success because they lay a strong foundation for the new General Manager. In the best cases, instead of inheriting a list of problems to solve, General Managers who follow Interim Leaders receive an organized package of projects and status reports with fewer balls in the air.
The best interim leaders have that special skill that every Board craves: a lack of ego. Because of their short tenure, they consider their purpose to be straightforward: keep the train on the tracks and moving forward. They want to keep the peace. Rarely will they embark on a pet project or enact dramatic change (unless of course, you need that, in which case their short-timer status can be a benefit). With less to prove, they’re able to act logically and expediently, for the good of the organization.
One note: we recommend hiring an interim leader at the same time that you launch a replacement search. Interim Leaders should be in place no more than six months, which is how long a search can take. Once your interim leader has been in place for a few weeks, don’t hesitate to bring them into the interviews and inquire as to their insights and observations about your organization. Take advantage of their fresh perspective that lacks agenda.
Here is a common mistake we see: when faced with a void in leadership, clubs turn to an existing department head or even a member to fill the gap. In some cases, the Head Golf Professional, Controller, AGM, Membership Director or even the Club President steps in as the temporary General Manager. While this may seem like a practical solution, it is often a mistake for several reasons.
With an interim leader in place, you can ensure your operations don’t skip a beat. You can protect your Board, your staff and your members, and you can set your future manager up for success.
Choosing the right interim leader is essential. The team of professionals at GSI Executive Search know the industry inside and out and have the tools, knowledge and experience to succeed. We have been consulting in the hospitality industry for over 30 years and have built a deep roster of candidates who can meet your leadership requirements, both on a temporary and permanent basis.
We look forward to partnering with you and ensuring your club remains strong during times of transition.
Ned Welc, CCM, CCE
Ned@gsiexecutivesearch.com
440-796-7922
Gsiexecutivesearch.com
