Temporary Leadership: Can You Make a Difference in an Interim Role?
Leadership and Administrative Skills
Daniel Leonard
County Extension Director
UF/IFAS Calhoun County Extension
Blountstown
Abstract
Leadership transitions are inevitable in Extension organizations, and interim or temporary leadership roles are becoming increasingly common. Whether resulting from retirements, resignations, or organizational restructuring, Extension professionals are often asked to step into leadership positions with little notice and without a long term mandate beyond maintaining stability until a permanent leader is appointed. Despite the temporary nature of these assignments, research suggests that interim leaders play a critical role in organizational continuity, employee morale, and resilience during periods of uncertainty (Woods et al., 2019; Arfken et al., 2024). Studies of interim leadership indicate that effective temporary leaders do more than “hold the ship afloat”; they serve as stabilizers and sense makers, helping organizations preserve trust, maintain mission focus, and prepare teams for future leadership (Browning & McNamee, 2012; Woods et al., 2019).
It is common for individuals in interim roles to question whether meaningful impact is possible within a limited timeframe. However, leadership research demonstrates that credibility and trust—key determinants of leader effectiveness—can be established rapidly through transparent communication, consistency, and relational leadership behaviors (Dirks et al., 2021). Moreover, transformational leadership behaviors, even when enacted over short periods, have been shown to strengthen organizational resilience and team adaptability during times of change (Bai et al., 2025).
Drawing from the presenters’ first hand experience as interim County Extension Directors, Extension case examples, and leadership research, this session will highlight practical strategies for navigating uncertainty, establishing credibility quickly, and balancing immediate operational needs with longer term organizational health. Special emphasis will be placed on communication, trust building, fostering team resilience, and sustaining organizational culture during leadership transitions. By the end of this session, participants will be able to recognize the unique challenges and opportunities of interim leadership within Extension organizations; apply evidence based strategies to build credibility, trust, and team resilience; and leverage interim roles as opportunities to practice visionary leadership, strengthen organizational connectedness, and support future leadership development.
Authors: Daniel Leonard, Nick Simmons
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Daniel Leonard County Extension Director, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 32424
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Nick Simmons County Extension Director, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 32533