Challenge
When the Head of Packaging at a mid-sized CPG company went on leave, it created a significant gap. Several high-stakes projects were in motion, and the team was facing an uncertain period without their leader. I'm proud to share that I successfully served as their interim leader, and helped ensure business continuity and team momentum.
Approach
My first priority was to connect with the team. I held one-on-one meetings with each member, not just to talk about work, but to actively listen. My goal was to hear their concerns and offer reassurance that we would get through this together. Understanding their individual perspectives helped build trust and gave me critical insight into the type of leadership needed during that period.
With a better understanding of the team, I delved into the work. I reviewed all active projects and goals to establish a clear picture of our current state. This wasn't about maintaining the status quo; it was about optimizing the team's workload. I made a point to ensure the most important business priorities received the right level of attention. Some projects needed different skill sets, others were paused, and some were even re-scoped as business needs had changed.
To maintain momentum and ensure the team's voice was heard, I stepped up to represent Packaging in all cross-functional and C-level meetings. This freed the team to focus on their work without worrying about external pressures. I also made sure to leverage the unique strengths of each team member, giving them ownership of areas where they had the most expertise. To ensure we didn't lose track of key decisions, I kept a detailed log of all major changes.
When the Head of Packaging was ready to return, I worked to make the transition as smooth as possible. We reviewed the progress we'd made and debriefed on the major decisions, setting them up for a seamless reintegration into their role.
Outcome
Because of this proactive approach, the team not only stayed afloat but thrived. All key projects remained on track and were completed on schedule. More importantly, every team member felt supported and valued throughout the transitions. The team’s morale remained high, and the operation continued to run smoothly, demonstrating the power of prioritizing people and communication, even in challenging times.
