Today we’re focusing on career longevity, and talking with an interim with an incredible track record of over 20 assignments in the UK and Australia. Lynn Thomas talks about resilience, energy, adapting, and resilience. If you're curious about a career that offers constant challenge, huge diversity and variety, and the flexibility to align with your life, this episode is going to be very interesting.
- Qualities of a Successful Interim: Lynne emphasizes that an interim professional is a "problem solver" and "connector," akin to an "emergency physician" or "paramedic" for organizations. Key qualities include resilience, diplomacy, confidence, and humility. She shares how she developed these attributes, likening it to "building muscle" through diverse experiences.
- Navigating Challenges and Building Trust: The conversation touches on the inherent challenges of interim work, such as walking into unfamiliar and sometimes hostile environments. Lynne stresses the importance of building trust with managers, especially when they might feel nervous about an outsider. She highlights the ability to provide clarity amidst confusion and see what internal staff might miss.
- Finding Assignments and Networking: Lynne discusses how the landscape for finding interim roles has evolved. While traditional agencies still exist, she now heavily relies on her network, reputation, referrals, and platforms like LinkedIn to secure new assignments.
- AI's Impact on the BA Role: Lynne shares her practical use of AI as a "personal assistant." She emphasizes that AI does not yet replace high valuable human capabilities such as curiosity, emotional intelligence, understanding organizational politics, facilitating workshops, or mediating conflicts.
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