The term “interim manager “is widely used in many different fields and often misconstrued, so it is probably best to start with a definition of what I mean in this context.
An interim manager is someone who is brought in by a business, for a defined, limited period to carry out a particular task. An interim manager is different from the pure finance role described elsewhere on this site in that it focuses on leadership and management, often change management and not just the financial aspect.
To be an effective interim manager needs to be experienced in such situations, have strong leadership skills and be decisive in implementing the plan. The foundation of any interim management role is a solid plan and good time management discipline.
I have been involved in numerous interim management roles across a wide range of business sectors. I have been engaged after a business review to deliver the change required. I have assisted a growing business looking to recruit but needing short-term help at the same time. And I have acted as a non-exec to provide additional breadth and depth to a management team needing support for a couple of months.
Interim management is very much a “people job “requiring the ability to lead and manage. Throughout my career, I have worked on developing my leadership skills. I have reached the role of director leading teams of various sizes in practice and, away from work, I was Chief Steward of a fourth division football team. That involved managing over 40 people on match days as well as working in close coordination with the police, club management and playing staff.
