Whether you need someone to deliver a business transformation, to guide you through a merger or acquisition, or to fill a skills gap on a short-term basis; Interim managers bring with them a special set of skills and experiences.
It is the versatility of interim managers that gives them an edge. They fill gaps in the skill set and experience of an organization. And on a more practical level, they will be used to navigate tight deadlines, high pressure situations, and established teams.
Interim managers are well suited to helping organizations solve a wide range of problems:
Fast Results:
Interim Managers are a quick start solution, which means they are able to make a direct impact. He is hired for a specific need, and this has been his focus since day one. And with their assignments ticking, they are motivated to dive right in.
Focus on Delivery:
The purpose of hiring an interim manager is to ensure that your organization achieves its intended business goal. This goal may be to successfully implement a new system, deliver a major transformation program, or ensure a smooth merger or acquisition. Whatever it is, an interim manager will take a laser-focused approach to achieving that goal.
Intermediates focus only on outcomes and outcomes. As they will only be in business for a limited time, they will not be distracted by their future concerns in business. Nor will they associate themselves with internal politics. And it allows the interim to be fair, focused on the best interests of your company.
Specialized Expertise:
Interim managers bring with you a specific skill set to meet your business needs and have a strong track record of helping other companies overcome the challenges facing your business.
At the senior executive level, interim experience is often experienced in many areas and disciplines. The quality and range of their skill sets will be more sophisticated than a full-time position that would normally demand.
Lasting Legacy:
Interim managers will work with internal teams and spend time mentoring and coaching them. This will not only ensure a smooth change when the contract expires, but also ensure that they leave a lasting legacy so that the organization is better equipped to respond to future challenges and opportunities.
The need to involve external organizations in business change often results in a lack of internal capacity to cope with the change. Change is always on the agenda and organizations are recognizing the need to build more sensitive, more flexible and more adaptive teams. Interim managers can help empower and nurture internal talent to embed the positive legacy of an agile, change-able business.
Operating a Small business can be an immensely rewarding experience, both personally and financially. However, there is always the risk of making mistakes that can impact your bottom line or even tarnish the reputation of your business. Below are some strategies from International Executive Consulting LLC that every entrepreneur should know in order to push through major setbacks and even turn them into opportunities for future success.
Own Up Right Away:
Transparency is important, especially when it comes to making mistakes. If you don’t own up to them, you risk alienating clients or customers and harming your reputation. At best it will seem like you didn’t notice the error, which makes your business appear incompetent. At worst, you may be accused of deliberately covering up the mistake or withholding information. Confessing to botches immediately lets you approach the issue on your own terms while doing harm control, and clients will be bound to move toward you again in the event that you are transparent from the earliest starting point.
Make Personal Connections:
Behind every product, service or business is a team of human beings and sometimes it’s important to make a personal connection when things go up. Reaching out to consumers and putting a human face to the business can go a long way toward remedying a bad situation.
Factor in Failure
No matter how large a business may be, it is vitally important to factor mistakes and even large-scale failures into the budget. Some companies go so far as to set aside line items specifically for such eventualities and while that may not be a feasible option for small business management consulting. Repeat business and reputation are especially important for fledgling businesses and being able to issue refunds or aggressively react to mistakes without putting yourself at major financial risk may make all the difference when the time comes.
Learn When to Say No:
While it may be tempting to tackle every single order, project or event that comes your way, it’s important for small management consulting firms owners to realize that biting off more than you can chew may have serious repercussions, especially early on. Growth is important for any business but taking on projects that can’t be properly managed or resourced risks complications or even major failure, which can spell doom for a business that hasn’t established itself yet.
Take Action:
When it comes to big mistakes, take initiative and be proactive instead of reactive. Remember that failure can be a learning experience; get back to the drawing board and figure out exactly what went wrong, so that you can either correct it or ensure that it isn’t an issue in the future. Create a plan of action to reassure clients or customers and restore confidence in your product. Having the fortitude to bounce back and carry on is one of the things that separate successful small business management consulting services from the ones that flounder and fold.
Consider a Consultant:
Sometimes there is no simple way to recover from a mistake or to prevent backlash. In these worst-case scenarios, it may be wise to consider courting outside opinions. If you’ve put time into networking and building relationships, it’s possible that there are other business owners or professionals in your field that would be willing to provide advice or put you in touch with people that can help. In serious cases, when the reputation of your business or brand is jeopardized, professional reputation management consultants might prove necessary in order to protect your business.