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 Seven - Stressful situations and sleepless night
The session comes to a natural conclusion, as far as Project Hermes is concerned anyway. People drift back to their offices and eventually there's just one of the team, James and I... you could cut the atmosphere with a knife but the third person in the room seems oblivious to the heady mixture of vibes circling around.
We head for the lift... and suddenly James and I are alone waiting for the elevator... 'So this is a surprise', he says after a few seconds of total silence. Surprise is an understatement, I think but manage to stutter: 'Er, yes..for me too'. 'Didn't realise you had joined PharmiMed', he continues, 'When did that happen?'
More smalltalk and then he says: 'Have you time for a late lunch before your flight?'
Moment's pause... I am sure he can hear my brain whirring. 'Why not?' I decide, 'It's only lunch'.
The restaurant is just three blocks away and off we head, still with only trivial chitchat between us... but once inside, food on the way and a glass of wine in my hand (shouldn't, but what the hell, my nerves are shattered), it gets easier.
Over the next hour we cover the last 15 years... two marriages, one divorce (his)... two children (mine)... job taking him to the US... mine remaining in the UK. The years roll away and we start to reminisce... this is comfortable, even enjoyable... he's still got the same zany sense of humour that he had when we first met. Catch myself laughing uncontrollably for the first time in ages...
Just as I am unwinding, I get a call on my mobile... it's the number of the leader of Project Hermes in the UK... he'll be wanting a full debrief... 2pm US time means 9am UK time... he'll be desperate to know how it has all gone.
A momentary dilemma... do I take the call or let it go onto voicemail? I decide that this is not the time to start having in-depth discussions... what with James sitting there... restaurant noise in the background... and one glass of wine consumed. I'd rather deal with this in controlled conditions.
We finish…I need to get to the airport…James has an internal meeting. A quick peck on the cheek outside the restaurant and I hail a cab. He walks away. We agree to keep in touch…
Arrive at the airport, check in and make the call. I felt the presentation went well but it seems that the Project Leader has heard that the US team was disappointed. Apparently I was too circumspect in my interpretation of the data and dwelt unduly on the risks rather than the benefits. Strange I didn't get that impression; Americans are generally not shy in letting you know what they think (perhaps my antennae were distracted by James being there?) Didn't I know that selling the project was key? As far as he is concerned, I've put the future of the whole project in jeopardy. Don't like the way this conversation is going. If it was so important why didn't he come over and do the presentation himself anyway? Is there something else going on here? Says we need to meet and discuss how to 'repair the damage'.
Once onboard the plane, my mind is playing out different scenarios. Am I not hacking it as an interim? Am I being over sensitive? If I am asked to leave the project what will the agency think? And then, interleaved with all this angst, why has the meeting James again disturbed me so much? Am I being ridiculous and still harbouring romantic thoughts?
It's a cramped and sleepless night and I am glad when we finally land in the cold grey dawn of London Heathrow. I should be pleased to be heading home to see my family but instead I am dreading the meeting with the Project Leader and I am feeling unsettled by meeting James again.
Feel sorely in need of professional support ...and decide to ring my Buddy from the agency. Can't be the first time an interim has had this problem... and it isn't. Diana is lovely... we chat on the phone and buoyed up I head home... we agree that it's best to have the meeting and then report back. Seems that sometimes an interim can be used as a scapegoat when things are not going well.
So how does the meeting with Project Leader go? Is Jane asked to leave the team? How is the re-entry at home? Could this be the end of Jane's career as an interim?
See Jane's next diary entry...
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Next entry - corporate emergency and old flames reflicker
Previous episodes
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