Organisations depend on their senior executives, and when one of them leaves suddenly, it can be very destabilising for staff, management and other “stakeholders” such as customers, suppliers, and shareholders. The resignation this week of Rody Molloy, Director General of Fás, is a case in point, but only one example of how this can happen. In fact, it is more common than people think. Executives resign, fall ill, get headhunted, and get sacked, with surprising frequency.

The more senior the level, the bigger the issue. Sudden loss of a CEO is clearly a problem for any organisation, but other departures on the senior team can also be difficult. For example, no-one wants to lose a Human Resources Director in the middle of a staff dispute. Similarly, a departing Finance Director would be the last thing a CEO needs when in the middle of a merger or acquisition.

How do organisations find the people they need, at short notice? The answer depends to some degree on size. Smaller companies might for example replace their CEO with the owner / Chairperson until a replacement can be found. Another solution is to “step up” someone else on the team. This can be difficult however. There may be no-one who is ready for the more senior role, and even if there is, it can build the wrong expectations.

This gets worse with large organisations. There is the additional problem that steeping someone up temporarily can have a domino effect down through the organisation – the Finance Director who steps up temporarily to CEO also has to be replaced, and so on. It is not unusual to have one senior departure resulting in 4 or 5 consequential moves, creating huge upheaval.

Increasingly, organisations are turning to professional “Interim” Managers to fill temporary gaps. In the Fás example, an external Interim Manager, experienced in this type of work, would be employed by the Board to lead the company until the permanent replacement is found and takes up position. These Interim Managers bring great experience gained over a number of years, do their job, and leave again. Typically they have no interest in long term careers with the recipient company, do not get involved in company politics, but know how to recognise it and work round it. The best of them are people who can “hit the ground running”, quickly gaining the confidence of the Board, management, staff and the other stakeholders.

Who are they, and why do they work this way? An Interim Manager typically has 15-20 years senior management experience. They have decided to have a more flexible career structure, which allows them to choose from a variety of interesting roles, in different types or organisation, as they arise. Lifestyle can also be a motivator – some “Interims” might choose not to work during the summer for example, if they have a home abroad. Some will be senior women returning to the workforce after raising families; some will have fallen into an interim career after redundancy. The late departed Celtic Tiger also created Interims – for example the person who made money selling a business and then departed for the golf course, but then begins to realise that they want to be involved in occasional interesting projects, but not a long term career.

Inevitably, developments in corporate Ireland over the next few years will lead to increasing organisational turmoil, senior staff turnover, and the need for gaps to be filled. Interim Management in Ireland is much less prevalent than in the UK or the US, but it is certainly set to take a more central role as a way of coping with changing times.

David Quaid
http://www.articlesbase.com/recruitment-articles/recent-fas-resignation-how-organisations-deal-with-sudden-departure-of-executives-670756.html

Where is the active senior heading for vacation? The choices have never been more numerous. While there are many vacation destinations that only a few years ago were unheard of, other vacation spots have updated in order to become more attractive to seniors.

Overall, seniors today are healthier and more active than ever before. Visiting new places and experiencing new activities is possible for many of today’s seniors. Of course, relaxation is still of prime importance, which is why all-inclusive vacations are still popular.

All-inclusive vacations are great for active seniors for a variety of reasons. Because everything is included in the price, including airfare and meals, it is easy for the senior to plan and budget for the trip. Many all-inclusive vacations allow the vacationer to choose from a variety of activities as well. This means that the active senior can choose to play tennis or golf, ride bicycles or scuba dive, while other participants partake in spa activities or shopping. In the past, choices in all-inclusive vacations could be restrictive, but today, it is unlikely that the senior will be forced to participate in an activity that does not interest them.

All-inclusive vacations are available on resorts or cruises, in all areas of the world. If you are interested in a particular area, it is very likely that there is an all-inclusive vacation to that spot. What to know before scheduling an all-inclusive vacation? Be sure that you understand what all is included in the vacation. While it may be necessary for you to pay airfare from a smaller city where you live to a travel hub in a large city, if there are a variety of “extras” or optional expenses, it should raise a red flag that perhaps this particular all-inclusive vacation is perhaps not the best vacation for you.

Another popular choice for active seniors is a volunteer vacation. A volunteer vacation allows you to visit a different part of the world, learn about the culture, and help others, while still reserving time for relaxation and recreation. Activities for volunteer vacations run the gamut from counting bird eggs to helping children learn to read. There are options in the United States as well as many foreign countries. Don’t think that you don’t have skills that are needed. While some volunteers find opportunities to work in the field they were in prior to retirement, there are many opportunities for volunteers with no specialized training.

How to choose the right volunteer vacation for you? It is important to do volunteer work that you are interested in. If you aren’t an animal lover, counting turtle eggs probably will not interest you that much, even if it is on a beautiful beach. Of course, this does not mean that you should only volunteer for a charity that you are already familiar with. If the work piques your curiosity, and sounds intriguing to you, it will probably be a good vacation. The volunteer work is only one part of the vacation.

How will you spend your off hours? Although some volunteer vacations are in extremely poor areas with no amenities, it is possible to find a volunteer vacation that allows you to work part of the day, and spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach, hiking in the woods or enjoying excellent meals. If you have a strong opinion about what you need for a successful vacation, such as a certain level of accommodations or food preferences, it is important to speak with the vacation company early in your trip planning, to make sure that it is possible. The most important thing that you can do to ensure you have a good time on your volunteer vacation is to speak with others who have completed these vacations and ask if they feel that the company accurately represented the vacation to them.

Learning vacations are another popular choice with seniors. These vacations are a terrific idea for seniors who have not been intellectually stimulated since retiring from the workforce. A learning vacation typically devotes several hours a day to honing a particular skill, and the remainder of the time exploring the countryside, taking part in spa treatments, or relaxing on your own. The things that you can learn on these vacations are limitless; you can take cooking classes in France, horseback riding lessons in Ireland, or language lessons in Spain. Lessons are available for all experience levels, from the rank beginner to the expert looking to hone their skills.

What should senior citizens look for in a learning vacation? Again, speak with past customers of the company you plan to use. If others were satisfied with their experience, and would go on another vacation with the same company, that is a pretty strong testimonial. Also, consider what the recreational options are for the trip. It is easy to think that you will be so involved in the learning process that you will not have time to go sight-seeing, but these vacations are specifically designed to provide amble down time, and if you don’t have a plan for how to spend it, you may find yourself painfully bored. An experienced learning vacation company will know exactly what recreational activities are perfect for seniors and are available in each area. Formulate a plan about how to spend your day, taking into account your interests and activity level, take plenty of pictures and have a great time!

Lisa Parker
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/most-popular-vacations-for-active-seniors-723105.html

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