• Home
• About me
• What I do
• How I do it
• Interim management
• Links
• Contact me

Interim management

• Definition
• What interims do
• The value proposition

Interim managers are leaders who often address requirements in the ‘change’ arena. Given their hugely flexible skills, they will also manage significant projects and even undertake ‘gap’ or ‘resource shortage’ assignments. It is the interim manager’s independence and authority, along with the responsibility and scope requirements of the particular assignment that define an ‘interim management assignment’, as opposed to a contractor’s contract, or an agency worker’s temporary work.

Professional interim management assignments include:

1. Change Management. Interim managers have the skills, experience and the nous to make change happen in the best interests of the business without becoming unnecessarily entangled in company politics. Their track record is of effective change in multiple businesses, operating as credible leaders, adding value that sticks.
2. Specialist skill requirement. An interim manager can provide specialist skills not normally present in your organisation, for the period of time that you need them. As interim managers are not motivated to cling on to a job, they can transfer key learning to others and move on, leaving a positive legacy behind them.
3. Turnaround. The expert business perspective that interim managers possess enables them to have a major impact in rehabilitating and recovering businesses and divisions that are ‘under-performing’ in turnaround situations. Commercially knowledgeable and aware, they are the ultimate “In case of emergency break glass” solution.
4. A deluxe gap solution. Interim managers and executives can fill critical gaps caused by executive absences and departures. They add significant value, offering health-check and other value-added services while delivering the business with a ‘very safe pair of hands’ and with an eye to leaving a sound environment when they leave.
5. Expert additional resource. If you need expert added support for a specific project or high risk, time-sensitive activity, then interim managers are the ideal solution, bringing their expertise and extensive experience to bear on your behalf. As seasoned leaders, with no points to prove, they provide added resource without fuss.
6. Consultancy with implementation. Interim managers often operate very effectively as management consultants. Not only can they assess business needs, give advice and formulate proposals, because of their experience and proven ability, they will be equipped to implement their recommendations and be held accountable for the results.

Professional interim managers offer available leadership expertise, fit for purpose and effective across a range of sectors, disciplines, functions and roles. They are not simply ‘available’ because they are between permanent jobs; they are committed, qualified, mobile, freelance executives, practiced in delivering value.

Interim managers have the expertise to address ‘Business as Unusual’.

_{This common sense explanation © Institute of Interim Management (IIM) www.iim.org.uk}