Experience tells us that to get best value out of the services of interim managers clients need to give careful consideration to a number of areas relating to the management of them.
We offer below some 'best practice guidelines' as to how you can ensure that you do get 'best value' from an interim manager.
Prior to the assignment
- decide on how you will present the interim manager to your workforce and external stakeholders and whether you will present them publicly as an interim manager or not.
- inform relevant staff and key management of arrival of interim manager.
- inform staff of the interim manager’s terms of reference, reporting relationships and executive responsibilities.
- ensure staff recognise the senior management support for the interim manager’s role.
Start day of the interim manager
- greet the interim manager and agree a detailed brief on the role.
- introduce interim manager to key management and staff.
- agree communication procedure between the interim manager and sponsoring management.
- show the interim manager facilities, office space and explain key procedures including travel and expenses policy.
The first two weeks
- keep in touch with the interim manager – at least every two days.
- have an ‘open door’ policy with the interim manager for ease of communication.
- by the end of the second week agree a formal set of deliverable tasks to a timescale. (The Veredus business Manager will monitor this key step as part of our contract).
- arrange a review meeting with the interim manager at the end of the first two weeks (the Veredus Business Manager will attend this meeting if desired).
- strive to make sure the interim manager is seen as one of your team and not an outsider.
During the assignment
- maintain an ‘open door’ policy with the interim manager.
- organise regular – at least fortnightly – review meetings.
- resolve issues as quickly as possible.
- use the services of the Veredus Business Manager to support and facilitate if necessary.
- above all, do give the interim manager feedback – both good and bad as soon as possible.
At the end of assignment
- review the interim manager's completion report and carry out a final debrief.
- write a short reference on the interim manager’s style and achievements as a file note.
- review the assignment and the interim manager’s performance with the Veredus Business Manager.