Should you hire an interim manager?

An interim manager can be helpful in a number of ways. From plugging an urgent gap, to aiding in a transitional phase of your business, an interim manager could be exactly the kind of person you need to bring to your team.

This special type of hire is similar to a management consultant, but is much more specialized. They also offer a more complete approach to your situation. Interim managers are extremely popular in Europe and the UK, but their prominence is spreading throughout the world, including in North America.

If you’re unsure if hiring an interim manager is the right choice, here are some questions that you can ask yourself in order to assess your situation.

Do You Need Someone Right Away?

Odds are, if your businesses is about to go through major changes or if someone vital to the organization has left, you don’t have a lot of time to act. Here’s where an interim manager can come in handy.

Hiring the right manager can take months, but an interim manager could be available to you in a matter of days. They typically work for three to nine months at a time, which could be the perfect timeframe for you to find a permanent hire or for your business to adjust to whatever challenges it faces.

Do You Have a Specific Problem?

Unless you’re in need of a generalist’s help, an interim manager is probably your best solution. These professionals are specialists in their fields, and they can handle your challenges head-on.

And unlike typical management consultants, they’ll develop a plan for your business and then see it through. While consultants leave implementation to you, an interim manager will execute their vision and make sure it has the desired effects.

Valentin Ohlhorst, Manager, Interim Management at Michael Page:

“Interim Managers can be compared to Management Consultants but are normally a much more cost-efficient solution who will bring you strong, hands-on experience in a short amount of time, helping your business to bridge knowledge gaps and to navigate through tough times, which may be caused by a project, a peak, an absence or similar.”

Do You Need An Unbiased Opinion?

While management consultants typically report back to an agency, an interim manager reports directly to you. Their primary objective is to make your organization run more effectively, so they will always have your business’s best interest at heart.

Additionally, because they are temporary hires, they do not get caught up in office politics. They are there to get the job done and make things better, even if it ruffles a few feathers.

Are You Working With a Limited Budget?

It’s expensive to hire a full-time employee. And if you’re going through a transitional phase, you may not have the extra capital to bring on a new manager for a team that needs leadership and direction.

An interim manager is only paid for the days that they work, and is only around for as long as you need them. They can meet your objectives and be off, leaving behind a team that operates better than they ever have before, all within a budget that won’t break the bank.

Do You Want to Avoid Causing a Stir?

Any time there is an organizational shift, people get nervous. If you were to bring someone on full time, especially after you enter a transitional phase, people can be set on edge. The uncertainty of a new leadership figure can be quite intimidating in some cases.

But an interim manager is only there for a certain period of time. Therefore, they are automatically less likely to cause a negative reaction amongst employees. They will find themselves more open to this temporary hire’s suggestions and strategies, assured that they truly are there to make a positive impact during their stay.

In the event a member of your team clashes with the interim manager, you don’t risk losing that employee as a result. They’ll be more willing to “stick it out” until the interim manager leaves.

An interim manager can really do wonders for your business. As they grow in popularity in North America, demand for these expert problem-solvers will only increase.

If you need help navigating this new and exciting market, reach out to one of our expert consultants today.