Staff turnover is something that is inevitable in any workplace, however when a department head leaves it can be difficult to deal with, as the morale of the whole team could be impacted. The good news is that there are ways that you can move on from this, and get a new department head in place successfully. So, what should you do when a department head leaves?
Accept the decision that has been made
In order to move forward effectively, it is vital to start the process of finding a suitable replacement, and this means that you need to accept that the decision has been made. Your department head won’t have rushed into it, it will have been something that was carefully considered beforehand, and this means that the best thing to do is to part on good terms and look to the future.
Consider the impact on the team, and aim for continuity
When a key member of the team leaves, particularly a head, it is likely to have an impact on the team. They may wonder where they fit into a new structure, or have concerns that things are likely to change in the near future. You should be open and honest at all times when possible, and try to put their minds at rest. If there is an interim period with a temporary manager in the role, try to have as much continuity as possible with regards to the daily routine of other employees.
Think about whether to hire internally or externally
Often, it is a good decision for the replacement department head to be hired from the current team. After all, they are the ones who know the business, and who are likely to know more about how the previous professional worked. It is vital to make any application process fair, or there is the risk that favouritism could be suspected.
If you decide to hire externally, there needs to be an introductory period to ensure that the current team know their new head, and that the new employee can see how things work. If possible an overlap and official handover could be a good idea, as they would then be able to see how things are working at the moment.
However, it is important that anyone who applies for the role internally and does not secure the job are treated well, otherwise you are creating more issues.