Are you overlooking these 3 exceptional traits of an Interim Manager?
Interim Management has risen to prominence over a decade, with the world of jobs and employment getting increasingly complicated. Hiring individuals with management-level expertise who can implement ideas, fill in crucial gaps within top-level management, and work for an organization undergoing a massive change is not easy.
The Interim Manager seeks to bring stability to the business and is expected to possess many vital skills to step up to and commence the role.
Who are Interim Managers?
Interim Managers are senior executives who temporarily provide clients with knowledge, skills, and resources. They often work on time-sensitive projects, overseeing change, transformation, transition, or strategy. Since a senior-level interim job role can be daunting and demanding, looking for an expert willing to adjust quickly to new working cultures, understand client requirements and deliver the brief is a critical challenge.
We asked some of our talented Interim Managers and FM consultants to share their thoughts on the most critical skills to succeed as an Interim Manager. And in this article, we'll highlight the most prominent traits often overlooked whilst shortlisting candidates for this sort-after role. Let's dive into it.
Watch video below for a brief overview or continue reading…
1. Change
Management
Change management is an essential aspect of interim management. Many times, interim leaders are brought on board to implement a change. And bringing a new change in an organization is easier said than done. Employees may get upset, executives may disagree, and internal politics can take its toll.
Leaders and staff can get used to the 'usual way' of working in every organization but as we may know, the business world is very dynamic. Customer demands and markets change frequently. Therefore a change can make or break a company. And if you have to plan and implement successful transitions as an Interim, you'll have to sell your points enough to pin down what's wrong and propose a better way to benefit all in the long run.
To be an Interim Manager, they must have senior leadership experience in a corporate setting;
But most importantly, the desire to make things better, with proactive management of resistance, active listening and impeccable communication skills. This is absolutely necessary to succeed. One who can understand, plan, implement and communicate change contributes to an effective and seamless transition.
Not every professional can become an interim leader; there are several checkboxes that must be ticked (as mentioned earlier). Field-related education is a must in many cases, alongside other requirements. For instance, an Interim Manager in Facilities & Safety, may be required to be NEBOSH Certified.
2. Natural proclivity towards being result-oriented
Your Interim Manager should know what they're hired explicitly for. Their job is to get in, examine your company quickly, offer and implement recommendations, and most importantly deliver the results. The last part, delivering results, is precisely why you brought them on board.
Despite the role being temporary, permanent change should be expected in the organization. Therefore your chosen Interim Manager, they must be results-oriented. Simply put, people who care deeply about results have a 'win at any cost' mindset. They all look at their goal, and they ignore any other thing that's a potential hindrance. Yes, this sounds a bit brutal, but, as mentioned before, that’s how you know you’ve got a top notch Interim Manager - a role not everyone can effectively fill.
3. Preparation & Planning Skills
Preparation might not be the most glamorous trait, but the most critical one. Planning for every possible eventuality can be tedious, and not everyone is willing to do it. We'd instead convince ourselves that our experience and intuition will see us through everything. But at the end of the day, things can go wrong, and you should do everything you can to avoid being surprised.
What will you do if an upcoming product launch goes wrong? If you lose an internet connection just before a big presentation? Or if a natural crisis has been announced that necessitates a change of procedure?
Therefore, you need the ideal Interim Manager is a person who can ward off a bad situation. They need to be able to take control when things go wrong through proper judgement and capability and be prompt to think through things beforehand. This will prove to be a great resource to perform the job well and ensure that things move seamlessly - come what may.
Anyone can play the role when the going is easy, but a natural leader and Interim Manager will maintain control when times get tough. Do pay attention to these above traits and comment below to let us know which of these for your company you think is most important.
What challenges in your company are you worried about?
Interim search can get challenging, and with the high cost involved, companies cannot afford to fumble the process. More and more businesses are approaching skilled-based Interim franchise agencies over in-house recruitment. This is because partnering with external experts can help you overcome the cost and talent complexities and streamline your hiring process while keeping you abreast of the business's best practices.
If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, then email us to know more about how myfm can help you find your next Interim Manager. We'd be happy to help!
