Hi,
After many years as a management consultants I started working as an Interim Manager for the NHS, (UK public sector). Initially I thought these assignments/projects were one-offs, but after nearly 3 years I came to realise that this is a separate industry, with its own providers, agents, customers, etc. I changed my job title to Professional Interim. I discovered Manager tools a few months back and some elements I could use straight away, but some I struggle with, because of the timescales (I normally stay in a job for about 4-6 months, maybe 9). If rolling out the Trinity takes 18 months,id might get half way.
My first question is: is the rise of Interim Managers a global thing or is it due to local market conditions? (In the UK the public service and to some extent the IT sector uses interim managers) We are not project managers, we fit into the normal management structures, carrying out all the activities a manager would, usually to trouble shoot or to smooth over problems with recruitment
I was also wondering if there are more experienced colleagues (Or Mark/Mike) have some suggestions about how to use the trinity in short time scales, what is and what isn't adaptable.
Thanks
Marta
One on ones
One on ones are important, even in the short run. Like with project 1:1's, you don't get into the long term career discussion: it's about the employee in the first half, and the manager's issues in the second half. 1:1's return value quickly, and should be undertaken.
As for feedback, it would depend on the time frame and relationship. Same for coaching. A lot would depend on the nature of your interim assignment.
John Hack
One 2 ones and others
Yes, I agree that those are the most important, and I try to use them all the time, albeit sometimes if the organisation already has some kind of a framework, it may be difficult to use the standard format. (recent example: the organisation already had One to ones, but these were once a month events, lasting for about an hour and a half at the time. In this pariculart case, I was only in post for 2 and a half months, so I left everything as it was, but worked around it the best I could. As my parting contribution I recommended Manager Tools to all the top management team. I guess the nature of being an interim is that you have to work with what you've got, but still try to get the most of your team. Afterall, they do the work. Thanks for helping me thinking it thought.
M