The life of a locum CEO

Written by Michelle McFadyen, Locum CEO and Peak Trainer

I’m on the REX plane – and have been for more than 7 hours out of Brisbane, with a final destination of Bedourie, Far Western Queensland, butted up against the Northern Territory and the South Australian border.  I’m heading out for a few months as a locum to take up the role of Acting CEO while the council recruits` a new permanent CEO.  I’m familiar with the country having cut my teeth as a CEO at the Boulia Shire just north of Diamantina some well, many, years ago. 

After 25 years in Local Government in Queensland and New South Wales, last year I decided to change things up and go out on my own.  My passion is Mental Health Training and Workplace Wellbeing and I added to that mix, locum or Acting CEO’ing and I can say one thing about this - it requires a unique approach.

Locum CEO’ing is a career unto its own.  It’s not the same as going into a council as its permanent CEO, and it’s not the same as Consulting to a council.  It’s somewhere in the middle of that. 

During my better part of 6 months in the Diamantina as the Acting CEO, I paid close attention to what exactly it was that an Acting CEO can do that provides the absolute best value for the elected members, the staff, and the community, and at the same time, allows for a smooth and thorough transition to the new incoming CEO. 

This is what I came up with:

1. Know your stuff

This might cause some contention, but I believe that if you are coming in to act as a CEO, you had better know your stuff.There is no time for learning on the job – have your CEO experience under your belt, know the business of local government, and do your research before you get out there.You should be able to do the day-to-day job with your eyes shut.

2. Take the Pulse – this is so important. 

Where are the Mayor and Councillors at?

Take time to meet with the Mayor and the Councilors, what do they need from you over the next few months, where can you make the biggest impact in this short time.Try hard to hear what’s really going on, underneath what is being said.Stay with the Mayor, keep him close, keep him informed, and ask his opinion.

Where is the Council at?

Are they in financial trouble that immediately needs some action? Are they up to date on their RMPC claims? Is cash flow ok? Are they meeting their responsibilities under the 200 plus pieces of legislation we need to consider before we scratch ourselves?Make a call to the Department of Local Government , chat with your relationship manager. Call the LGAQ, tell them you’re here, and likewise, LGMA are always a great support.Contact your ROC - connect, network with your neighboring CEO’s and see what support they can offer you.

Where are the staff at?

Take your time with this one.You’ve just walked in the door, and you can bet your last dollar they’ve talked about you coming, they’ve Googled you, and they’ve stalked your socials.They’ve asked around after you and they’ve probably heard good and bad things and there’s a fair chance that none of it is true.They are likely nervous.Change is afoot, and a new CEO is a big, big deal, especially in a small council.Let them feel you out, answer their questions, talk to them.Be there.Don’t tell them how you lead, show them.Over the first few weeks, have some conversations - What’s going on for you?What’s working? What’s not?Again, try to hear what is not being said.

Where is the community at?

I know what a good small community feels like having spent much of my life in them.I can tell how a community is going just by walking down the street, stepping into the pub or the shops.It’s a vibe.Because of that, I can also tell when things aren’t going great in a community.Learn how to do this.Talk to people, feel into the place, get out and about, go to the Trivia night, the local markets.Listen, feel, pay attention.

3. Fill the gaps

If there are vacant positions, fill them asap – do not let the new CEO walk in to holes everywhere in the organisation.If a review of the structure is upcoming or they are direct reports to the CEO, then don’t cement anything in place, get in short term contractors or locums, but don’t leave the positions vacant.

4. Clean the CEO office and set them up

Throw out all the years of paperwork stored in those cupboards – a new CEO doesn’t need that.Tidy up the office, put a plant in there, dust the desk.Yes, it does make a difference.And along these lines, set the new CEO up in all the systems before they get there (IT, keys, banking, internal systems, external grant reporting systems etc.) and if you can get their sizing, order them some uniforms.

5. Leave a little bit of you behind

When all that is said and done, what else do you bring as a unique individual?For example, I bring my passion for Workplace Wellness and Workplace Mental Health Training – so we carved out 2 days for 22 staff to attend Mental Health First Aid Training.From a total of 66 FTE’s – Diamantina now has one third as fully trained Mental Health First Aiders.

6. Ensure a smooth handover to the new CEO. 

The handover doesn’t get prepared the week before the new CEO starts – you must think about this from the first day you walk in the door.Use a system and keep a track of everything as you go along - I used Microsoft Tasks which enabled the incoming CEO to have access to the historical emails and notes all in one place.Work with the Council and the new CEO to ensure a smooth handover.

7. And finally, step back gracefully. 

Once the handover process is complete, step back gracefully and allow the new CEO to take the lead. Be available for ongoing support, but avoid interfering in their work. This is their gig now and you’ve done the best you can as an interim to set them up for success.And that after all, is what you’re there for.

I am grateful to the Diamantina Shire – to the Mayor and Councillors for having trust in me, and for the staff and community who I grew to respect and love over my time there.  The only downside I see to this kind of work is the leaving ….the goodbye’s.  They can be hard, as it was when I left Diamantina in January this year. 

There’s word in Hebrew “Tugah” and we don’t really have an equivalent word in English – it means “sweet sadness”.  That’s how I feel when I fly away for the final time. 

Sweet sadness. 

Remember though, while your stay might be short, and the goodbye’s may be hard, you can make a positive difference.  This feedback from the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Diamantina Shire warms my heart and only makes me want to do an even better job next time. It shows how a temporary role can leave a lasting impact.

Michelle McFadyen came to Diamantina Shire Council as interim CEO for approximately 6 months during recruitment of a permanent CEO.  Michelle’s experience was a godsend for Diamantina Shire as among other things, we were in the middle of our tourism season which included the Simpson Desert Racing Carnival of Betoota, Birdsville & Bedourie, of which the council plays a major part. 

Diamantina Shire faced many challenges at the time.  Michelle’s energy, experience, teamwork, communication skills and her eagerness to provide a harmonious workplace and engagement of staff and communities has been exceptional.  I have never been so positive and happy to be a part of the future of the Diamantina Shire Council, I believe we are at the beginning of a successful, engaging period thanks to the groundwork set by Michelle.

Thank you, Michelle.  You have delivered exactly what we needed at precisely the right time.  You have been whirlwind of fresh direction.

Cr Rob Dare - Mayor Diamantina Shire

“Before Michelle came to our shire as Acting CEO, I was considering whether it was worth continuing as councillor, as I was feeling disheartened by my short experience in the role. Michelle brought clarity, confidence and most importantly stability to not only the CEO role but to we councillors and ultimately to our shire - our employees and our community at large. After her first few months, comments from the community were consistent, that there had been change and it was overwhelmingly positive. It is hard to imagine that anyone else could have walked in and turned us around so quickly. Grateful would be the word I would use, for what Michelle has done for us all.”

 Cr Francis Murray – Deputy Mayor Diamantina Shire Council