Diary of an interim
After working in a permanent role in the pharmaceutical industry for eight years, Jane has decided to change her lifestyle - to become an interim manager undertaking specific assignments in a bid to achieve a better work/life balance.
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Episode Ten - Tony disappears and another problem looms
After a few disturbed nights and a stressful weekend, decide to just get on with my part in Project Hermes, as well as managing the team of three which has been suddenly assigned to me. Wasn't quite what I had envisaged when I stepped out of a permanent role into interim... but seems I have little choice now.
To say that morale is low in the office is an understatement. Tony still mysteriously away and no-one seems to know (or want to communicate) what is going on. Add to that a huge workload has built up during the project hiatus over the summer. The net effect is that my objective of a three day week flies out of the window.
With everything else going on, have not dealt with the James issue and realise with a sudden jolt that he is arriving in the UK the next day! He has been emailing repeatedly to see if we can meet up but I have deliberately not replied. It all seems too complicated and very unsettling, just at the moment.
At last making some headway with Project Hermes including re-invigorating some poorly performing centres and getting enrolment back on track which creates the feeling that maybe things are moving in the right direction, at last. Also hear on the grapevine (which has been pretty non-existent until now) that Tony may have left the company. Feel guiltily cheerful at this news but then he did give me a hard time over the US presentation and I never really understood why...
Suddenly get a 'caller number withheld' on my mobile. Thinking this is my son's tennis coach about the Saturday match I unsuspectingly take the call. But it's not the coach... it's James, and judging from the announcements in the background, he's at the airport. In the UK.
'Why have you not replied?' he asks. No option now but to talk to him which is difficult in an open plan office where I am 'hot desking'. 'Because I didn't know what to say', I whisper. 'And I don't know if meeting up is a good idea anyway'. It's very difficult to make this conversation sound corporate and I'm conscious that my stage whispering might be attracting attention from other members of my team sitting nearby. In the end I agree to a coffee the next day just to terminate the conversation but decide to keep it brief and business-like. At least it will give me the opportunity to find out what's really been going on behind the scenes.
Suddenly there's a lot of animated conversation in the office... it's true. Tony has left! A bland, mass distribution email announces his departure, with immediate effect, 'to spend more time with his family', plus some nice, empty words about his contribution! Better and better! Seems that this is not the first time he has mismanaged a major study... so I was set up to be a scapegoat over the US business after all.
Next morning I am asked to see the Medical Director of our therapeutic area who confirms the Tony news. Out of the blue he then offers me a permanent job - Tony's role. I am at once flattered but confused. I mumble thanks and ask for a little time to consider the offer. 'Let me know by Monday', he says. Gives me a weekend to think it over.
Can things get anymore complicated? My coffee date with James is looming and now I have another issue on the table. (Note to self to talk it through with David tonight). Feel I am thrown off course as I have only just left a permanent job and now I am being offered another...
My date over steaming cappuccinos is anything but brief and businesslike, although fortunately terminated by his having a meeting to attend; but I do escape without committing to getting together again. In steering the conversation away from matters personal, James is unusually vague about why he's here at all, although he says he's heard good things about my work. In passing he mentions that one of his projects has been nominated for a Scrip Award - Best New Drug - which is real peer group recognition (would look good on a CV too). Also discovered that James will be around for a few days in the same office, which is both thrilling and unsettling.
So what does Jane decide to do? Is the job offer worth ditching the interim life for? How will she resolve the James issue?
See Jane's next diary entry...
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Episode 11 - A new door opens but what's inside?
Previous episodes
Episode Nine - A new role and a personal dilemma
Episode Eight - Corporate emergency and old flames reflicker
Episode Seven - Stressful situations and sleepless night
Episode Six - New experience and an old face
Episode Five - What's a work/life balance?
Episode Four - Making a real contribution and changing projects
Episode Three - The First Assignment
Episode One - Initial Euphoria