Companies can hire an interim manager as an executive for a limited period, typically between three and 18 months. Interim managers are self-employed and independent of most administratively complex hiring and termination formalities.
The advantages and disadvantages of interim management
There is no specific training for the profession of interim manager. What is more important is a wealth of experience, specialist knowledge, and functioning networks. Satisfactory results should already have been achieved at various companies, and a professional approach to challenges is just as necessary in the job as social competence. This should primarily manifest itself in communication skills and leadership.
Areas of application
Originally, companies relied on interim managers when there was an acute problem in a company and additional expertise was needed to solve it. Meanwhile, however, they are used in a variety of cases, for example, as a bridging solution for a short-term personnel gap or during a change of ownership. They are also employed in project management, when there is a lack of capacity in a company, as an alternative to management consulting, during restructurings, and to procure external expertise.
Advantages
The concept of interim management was developed, among other things, to make the labor market more flexible – it allows competent workers to be hired quickly and without much administrative effort. This enables companies to react more quickly to changes in the market or within the company itself. In addition, it can be helpful to hear an unbiased external opinion that is not influenced by the work in the company.
Interim managers are not beginners; they often have years of experience as executives and bring a broad range of specialist knowledge with them due to their work in different companies. This offers an opportunity for companies to develop further business areas or to optimize structures and processes within the company. In contrast to management consultants, they are in the thick of things and therefore work in a more practice-oriented way.
In projects, interim managers deliver results from day one with their experience and their external perspective. They must quickly gain an overview of the company’s situation and build a basis of trust with the employees, and if they succeed, they can carry out their project in a targeted manner and with all their expertise, probably even more successfully than many long-term employees.
Disadvantages
As optimal as all this sounds, there are also disadvantages to interim management. The most obvious reason for doubts about the concept is that the interim manager is an external person and therefore may not build the necessary loyalty to the company where they are employed for only a short time. As an outsider, he or she also does not know all the processes and structures, which can make integration into the company more difficult.
The job of an interim manager is not easy, and not everyone is suited for it – spontaneous assignments over short periods, often involving travel, can cause stress, which may also negatively affect performance.
Furthermore, it may be a problematic adjustment for the company’s employees to suddenly have a different boss, and can lead to a loss of trust in the company’s previous management team, as interim management is still seen as an emergency solution for corporate crises.
Conclusion: Varies from case to case
Interim managers can be used in a versatile and short-term manner, but in some companies, they may create more problems than they solve.
Become more visible on Google & Social Media?
In a free strategy consultation for data-driven online marketing, we uncover your untapped potential, review any existing ad accounts if necessary, examine your SEO ranking and visibility, and determine which strategy is appropriate for your budget and which active measures will lead to more inquiries or sales.
✅ More visibility & perception through targeted placement
✅ More visitors > prospects > customers > revenue
✅ Reach target groups scalably with SEA
✅ Act and grow sustainably with SEO
🫵 Maximum success with our hybrid strategy
💪 More than 15 years of experience across industries in over 1,000+ projects demonstrable!
DE
