4 steps to create impact as an interim manager
As an interim manager you have the freedom and flexibility to choose projects that suit you; sometimes this can mean long-term projects where you have months or even years to steer a project to its desired outcomes, advance your skills and boost your credentials. However, how do you create a meaningful and positive impact on those shorter-term projects?
As businesses look for ways to maximise their digital transformation, change management, or operations-enhancing projects to boost profitability in the wake of the economic downturn, now is the time to enhance your project management skills and ensure you’re making the best impression on a project and a company. This will boost your reputation as an interim, encourage repeat projects or future project recommendations.
Four ways to create impact on a project:
With these four tips in mind, you can maximise your impact on a project and create good will between you and the client, add another accolade to your portfolio and feel proud of yourself for a job very well done.
1. Quick and insightful strategising
Being able to onboard quickly to your new project, adapt to new processes and systems, get comfortable with your team and stakeholders, and be able to quickly grasp the breadth and width of your project will help you immensely.
Developing a strategy quickly – without compromising on detail – will encourage your stakeholders’ confidence in you, from senior-level executives feeling reassured that you can be entrusted, to your team members knowing you’ve properly structured the project’s timelines and task allocation. This will not only help your colleagues work well within your project, but also ensure the smooth running of the entire project from start to finish with properly plotted milestones and KPIs.
2. Fast-acting results
Delivering results quickly and hitting all major milestones and KPIs will help you keep your project on course and ensure the overall outcome is positive and has a long-lasting impact on the future of the organisation.
3. Effective stakeholder management
As an interim manager there is a lot of responsibility resting on your shoulders; the role requires you to help others, manage your client’s resources and problem solve as you assume responsibility for the project. To do this effectively, you need to quickly grasp which level of communication your various stakeholders require.
Successfully managing your stakeholders will help you develop positive relationships, allow for smooth collaboration between colleagues and teams and ensure the project itself runs smoothly.
4. Long-lasting knowledge transfer
Imparting the necessary skills and knowledge to permanent staff to support the project, the end results, or its longer-term opportunities will help guarantee the impact and benefits of the project on the business for years to come.
This will not only enable the upskilling of permanent staff, but allow the organisation to benefit from their new-found skills and knowledge for years to come, maybe allowing them to lead their own projects in the future!
Oakwood Resources’ expertise in the interim management market can help you find the best assignments to fit your skill set, help you get started and ensure success for both yourself, your team and your stakeholders. If you wish to discuss interim management opportunities contact our specialist interim recruitment team who will be happy to talk with you.
Submit your interest as an interim manager
