In this inspiring episode, we chat with Tim Mattos, who recently made the courageous leap from a 14-year career as an IT Director at Aldi to the dynamic world of interim leadership. Discover what it takes to transition from a long-term successful permanent role to a flexible, high-impact interim career, and how embracing uncertainty can lead to incredible personal and professional growth. Tim's insights on rediscovering confidence, navigating challenges, and the unexpected joys of independent work will leave you re-evaluating your own career path. Tune in to learn why fortune favors the brave and how you can increase your "surface area for luck" in your own professional journey!
Tim has recently become an Interim, he's just completed his first assignment after it was extended. Previously he was an IT Director at Aldi where he worked for 14 years. It's a huge achievement to make such a transition from being a long-term permanent employee to being an Interim and it demonstrates Tim's determination, agility, flexibility and courage. With the new experiences fresh in his mind, I'm looking forward to a colourful and fascinating conversation.
- Seeking Entrepreneurship and Flexibility: Tim realized that he was no longer a natural fit for Aldi’s evolving shape and that it wasn't authentically him. He wanted to be entrepreneurial and wanted a flexible future where he could leverage his 20 years of operational leadership. A key attraction to the interim world was the opportunity for accelerated learning through diverse exposure and repeated experiences across different organizations and sectors. Thinking of the interim role as a "next chapter" rather than a final destination helped unblock the decision-making process.
- Reframing Skills: Tim quickly realised that his long tenure at Aldi had already equipped him with extensive experience in leading transformations; he just needed to reframe his existing skills for the interim market. He had to build an external professional network from scratch, a process he thoroughly enjoyed and found crucial for success in the interim world. Similarly he had to tackle the administrative work of setting up a limited company, registration, insurances, and managing periods between assignments, all of which are foreign to permanent employees. Inwardly, the transition was about rediscovering lost confidence and backing himself. Tim found immense empowerment in having a client rather than a boss, which allowed him to set boundaries, speak more plainly, and stand by his opinions.
- Embrace Challenge and New Experiences: Tim's love for challenge, new experiences, and curiosity, makes him a natural fit for the interim lifestyle.
- The Vast Market for Interims: Tim realized the sheer size and dynamism of the job market, particularly the 80% comprised of SMEs, where significant opportunities for interims exist.
- Increasing Your "Surface Area for Luck": Success in landing interim roles comes from being the right person with the right skills on the radar of the right people at the right time. Proactive networking and being prepared for opportunities are crucial.
- Agility and Decisiveness: Interim professionals need to be super agile, able to move fast, understand their financial implications and make quick decisions with available information.
- Emotional Resilience: Closing contracts and handing over to permanent hires can be emotionally challenging, as it means becoming no longer needed, and it is helpful to recognise that it is a sign of successful completion of an assignment.
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