Interim management

What is Interim Management

"Interim Management is the rapid provision of senior executives to manage change or transition”. (Interim Management Association)

In much simpler words he is a highly experienced executive who has chosen a career as an Interim Manager and whom you can employ on a short-term basis to solve specific business problems. Unlike a consultant he will not only give you advice on what to do but also implement the solution. Such an Interim Manager will offer both past experience in turnaround and troubleshooting a company and specialization in a particular field. This mixture of hands-on experience and specialization gives them a unique strategic advantage when handling new problems.

What do Interim Managers Do:

Interim Managers can be deployed in a range of organizations from multinationals to small start-ups; they can work in both private and public sectors, across all different industries. They can perform any senior role, such as interim CEO, General Manager, Functional Head, Project Manager or a more advisory position.

No matter what type of project or position, Interim Managers will exhibit a typical behavior:

They join the company for a limited period (usually around 6-8 months, but dependent on the situation)

They start quickly, being able to assume the new role in a few days

They adapt to the organization, establish their credibility and become part of the team rapidly

They usually report directly to the Senior Management team, but build strong internal relationships across the company

They are result-driven, working against a set of clear deliverables and a set timeframe

Together with the team, they deliver the agreed objectives and ensure key performance indicators are met

They develop client staff to take over the transition once the project comes to an end

At the end of the project they ensure processes and systems are in place to continue the transition and manage a smooth handover of all relevant information

Interim Manager vs Business Consultant:

The roles and profiles of the Interim Manager and the Business Consultant are very different. Deciding on which is the better option for a specific assignment depends on the particular situation and skill set required.