Be it a position that you hope to make permanent, or you see it as a temporary stop on your career path, attaining success in an interim role comes with a set of challenges. Interim leaders, including the accomplished ones, do not usually encounter the same complications and situations.
Interim management typically comes into place when teams or companies are in the midst of change. As such, if you are looking to take up this role, you will need to create a sense of stability for the team under your reins while adding a fresh perspective. You also want to stand out from the crowd.
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Here are five ways to stand out when seeking an interim management role
Remember you are providing a service
In an interim role, you are entering into a business and offering a very particular type of service. It is starkly different from being a permanent employee. What’s more, being an interim manager requires an entirely different mindset than being a permanent one. Often, interim managers are hired as the result of sudden change, and so when stepping into this type of role, you need to be ready to hit the ground running.
You should also be prepared to get your hands dirty. The reason for this is that you might be on “clean up duty” from a previous member. Alternatively, you might get onboarded for resolving a specific issue. This can be a tricky management situation, so staying professional is essential. Do not take it personally if you ruffle some feathers, and focus on getting the job done.
Flexibility is non-negotiable
According to popular research, the number one skill required by any interim manager is flexibility. The reality of these types of roles rarely live up to expectations. Often, the impression you have of a role at first can be quite different to the reality, and you might have to do things above or below your pay grade.
Being flexible is all to do with mindset. And given the changing dynamics and complexities of the business ecosystem, it is paramount. It will help you carve out your reputation as a reliable interim manager who delivers the required results.
Build good relationships
Your relationship with your team will help you be a successful interim manager. In this type of role, you must ensure the backing of a solid, robust reputation. What’s more, as a manager you are dealing with other people. So, know the right ones! Experts suggest that networking and building good relationships with the interim providers and consultants within corporations are integral to success. It helps build trust. And if your team trust you, you will be among the first on their call list when an opportunity arises.
Practice versatility
Versatility is inevitable, especially given the rapid-changing trends and patterns in the business ecosystem. With that said, interim position holders need to adapt to new situations. And this is a skill relevant to almost every career path.
In essence, you are becoming a chameleon. A flexible and adaptable mindset prevents you from being dazed by uncertainty. Also, you can read between the lines. This is critical when succeeding as an interim manager. So, do not shy away from simply rolling up your sleeves, as operating at the top of the table is integral to performing effectively.
Question the processes
Another thing you need to do as an interim manager to stand out is to question the processes and procedures in place. This demonstrates that you can be proactive and question whether things could be better.
Improvement and change are, generally speaking, considerable aspects of several interim assignments. Those who question behaviours that are “the norm” to a company, attitudes, work ethic and culture stand to have a much greater degree of success. The hunger for improvement needs to get fine-tuned with an ability to influence and motivate people to change.
At the end of the day, being an interim manager requires a shift in mindset and lifestyle. And if you are successful, it can become a life-changing career move. When stepping into the role, you need to give yourself and your team room to learn, grow and innovate – it’s a brand new experience for all parties.
