Why Interim Managers Need To Invest in Themselves

When people hire an interim manager, they’re looking for experience: someone who’s done what they need before and done it well.

For you as an interim manager, this means that whatever you’ve done well in the past, you’re likely to get hired to do it again, solving familiar problems using a similar management style and methodology. 

So where’s the career progression?

Training and development isn't included with interim assignments

As a self-employed person, you don’t have an employer supporting your learning and development - personally or financially. You also won’t have access to 360-degree feedback or other leadership development tools. 

Combine this with the fact you’re doing similar assignments, and you’re likely to end up leaning more heavily on your strengths while neglecting your weaknesses. This won’t make you marketable if you want to go for higher level contracts or return to permanent employment. 

But, there are things you can do to cement your status as a subject matter expert.

But, interims experience accelerated knowledge gain

Yes, you’re working on similar assignments, but each business or public sector organisation is different. You’ll come across different personality types, leadership styles, levels of digitisation, internal team structures, IT set-ups and processes - I could go on.

Learn from all of them. 

You’ll become familiar with ‘what good looks like’ and able to spot quick wins for instant impact.  And, because you’ve worked in a large number of different environments over a relatively short period of time, you will speak from a broader experience – earning your position as a ‘go to’ expert.

Invest time and money into self-development

It’s vital to keep investing in your own development, asking your clients for feedback, and working with your colleagues to make sure you’re moving your career forwards.

If you have the luxury of being ‘in demand’, you can look for roles where interaction with other departments is high. Although you’ve been hired for your specialist skills, working in cross-functional teams will allow you to develop new ones. 

Interim managers need to keep on top of new techniques, innovations and best practice. Joining your professional body can help here, or working with people who can coach you on how to get the most out of your leadership style and experience.

Consider interim career and leadership mentoring

Interim management is a completely different world to permanent employment, where a plethora of training and development resources are often available. 

Finding a mentor or coach with a broader understanding of leadership styles, who can teach you how to make the most of your skills, can be a real help. And, they can act as a sounding-board for ideas, something that’s often missing when you’re known as the ‘external expert’.

For most interim managers, the main block to investing in their own development is money. But if you choose your assignments carefully and leverage your network, you’ll find plenty of willing help and resources which cost very little. Mentoring could be exchanged for your skills elsewhere, for example.

Believe in your own abilities

A lack of continual feedback or formal training can lead to ‘imposter syndrome’. Just because you might not have paid for a course on x or y, doesn’t mean you're not competent in it. 

To manage something or someone doesn’t mean you need to be able to understand every one of the finer details. Interim managers are usually hired to look at the bigger picture.

Relationship building is key. Get the technical specialists on side and work together to achieve the end goal. Your objectivity and ability to swerve the politics will be invaluable, even if you’re not familiar with the latest set of regulations or algorithm updates.

Take charge of your career direction

One thing’s for certain – no one is going to do it for you.

The joy of working as an interim manager is the ability to take your career in any direction you want to. And you should ensure you find enough time in your working week or in between assignments to set some personal development goals.

Work out what you want to achieve and what you need to do to achieve it.

Set time, and money if necessary, aside for that training course you’ve seen. Make the effort to get onto LinkedIn and keep up with industry trends. Get out to industry events and seminars. Connect with people in your sector and build a support network.

Build a network of good, specialist recruiters. 

We are the gateway to new and exciting opportunities, the people who can help you find your next assignment. As a team who spend each and every day working in the interim market, our network extends much further than that of an individual.

We will advise, provide insight on rates, market demand, what’s hot and what’s not, make selected introductions, give you the inside scoop on positions you're applying for.

Above all, we’re here to help! Use our specialist knowledge, our network and our advice.

Invest in yourself - with time, money and training - to give your interim career the best chance of developing.

And, make part of that investment finding a good, trustworthy recruiter who can put excellent opportunities your way (Hint, Boston Hale is one!).

To register with Boston Hale as an interim, contractor or permanent candidate, upload your CV here or contact our Practice Area Managers to discuss your experience and available opportunities.

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