What are Interim Managers?
Typically they have the following characteristics:
- They have been senior managers and directors with a great deal of experience who have chosen Interim Management as a career and lifestyle, not to fill a gap between jobs
- They are willing to move into a role and take over a specific function or a general management role at short notice.
- They are able to "hit the ground running" and get on with the job immediately.
Why do companies use Interim Managers?
- To fill a gap in the senior management or board team, often due to somebody leaving suddenly or moving into another role.
- To bring in skills and expertise not available internally. A typical example is for a Business Recovery/Turnaround, or to initiate and implement change, reorganisation, restructuring.
The main benefits of Interims:
- Speed: one of the major benefits of Interim Managers is that they will come in and start straight away on identifying the key issues and getting to work on them. No extended recruitment process.
- Experience: Interim Managers are highly skilled and have a wealth of experience. They have encountered and worked through most problems in business.
- Skills: providing a specialist skill or discipline.
- Flexibility: Interim Managers, by their nature, take on all manner of jobs and tackle whatever issues arise. There are fewer "demarcation lines" with an Interim Manager.
- Contract: there are no "strings" to their placement, they are there for as long or as short as is necessary.
- Cost-effectiveness: although seemingly expensive on based on a simple daily rate, when all factors are taken into account the use of an Interim Manager will be extremely cost-effective and they provide very good value.
- Change Manager: IM's are often used to bring about change that would be difficult, for a number of reasons, for internal staff to undertake. The IM can be a catalyst for change, identifying the key issues and changes needed, and then implement them with no strings or politics attached.
Why are Interim Managers cost-effective?
- They don't need lengthy inductions - they "hit the ground running". They are adept at getting into a company and culture very quickly.
- They can bridge gaps in senior staff/board whilst permanent solutions are found, with no expectations of long-term employment.
- Provide vast external experience that will enhance the existing team's skills.
- Experienced at getting to grips with new and unusual challenges fast.
- Can implement change very effectively where necessary.
- They can keep out of the internal politics of the organisation and work directly to the appointing executive.
- You don't pay hidden on-costs, benefits, pensions, health care, holidays etc. What you see is what you pay.
It's a low risk solution. Contracts can be as long or as short as you need, and if it is not working, you can terminate the contract quickly and with no come-back.
Interim Managers will not only look at the overall strategy and the plans and processes of the company, they will “roll up their sleeves” and get on with implementation, using the resources within the company – that is their biggest value over a consultant. Please call for an informal (but confidential) discussion on your problem.
Rapier Interim is a subsidiary of Rapier Management.
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