We have a vacant VP of Operations seat that we cannot seem to fill, and it is stalling our daily execution. How do we manage this empty seat while we search for candidates?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

An empty leadership seat is a massive drag on your company and a red flag for buyers. You cannot simply leave the box blank and hope for the best. Accountability must always lie with a specific person. When a seat is vacant, the person sitting directly above that seat on the Accountability Chart must step in and assume temporary ownership of those roles. Usually, this means your Integrator must put their name in that box alongside their own.

As the temporary owner, the Integrator is responsible for running the department, hitting its numbers, and keeping its Rocks on track. However, this is a short-term fix. No one can run two leadership seats effectively for long without burning out or dropping balls.

To maintain momentum without overloading your Integrator, look to delegate specific, tactical roles from that vacant seat down to capable direct reports. This keeps daily operations moving. Keep the strategic, high-level roles with the Integrator. If the search is taking too long, consider bringing in a fractional executive to sit in the seat temporarily. This keeps your exit preparation on track and proves to potential buyers that your organization has a clear plan for managing leadership transitions.