We all need a little helping hand every now and again don’t we….

Supporting your business with outsourced marketing management can help to take the strain off your business resource.

Against a backdrop of political uncertainty and the need to continually provide value for money in a competitive market place, businesses can’t afford to sit back on their laurels or have marketing as the poor relation. The impact of Brexit is still unclear and for that reason alone brand reputation development will be a key priority for many.

Now let’s throw a scenario in the ring. Your Marketing and Communication Director announces they are moving on to pastures new. Great news for them but a headache for you!

What do you do?

You have a number of choices:

  1. Move a deputy into an acting position – but are they ready to take on the responsibility and can they really do two jobs at once?
  2. Do nothing, wait the 3-6 months for the replacement, with the CEO or Managing Director managing down and taking over the strategic leadership. Sounds ok in principle but the same 2 into 1 issue applies and almost certainly they are not a marketer or a communications specialist.
  3. Recruit an interim director. But one with a lot of marketing and leadership experience. Someone who can add value and not just hold the fort.

So, the key question that needs to be asked is:

How can interim managers help businesses in the short term to achieve their objectives, add value to existing strategies and current activities, so you don’t have to incur the expense of recruiting someone right away?

It’s about ensuring you get the right interim manager who fits your business. If you can do this then the benefits will speak for themselves.

An interim manager will provide:

Objectivity – This is an attractive aspect of the interim director. They bring a professional but impartial view and they can make decisions which are less emotionally attached or driven by internal politics.

In my experience, interim managers can be more objective in their approach and can identify issues, evaluate what’s happening on the ground and recommend appropriate solutions for situations that are not always clear to those that have been too close to the subject matter for too long.

Expertise – Most interims at Director level will be highly experienced and knowledgeable in their field and will inevitably bring skills and knowledge to address a skills gap problem.

My own experience and expertise of working across a range of industries and varying businesses, both large and small, has enabled me to make an impact from the outset. This has included marketing strategies, marketing audits/reviews, department restructures and brand development to name but a few. Skills and experience relating to the management and recruitment of marketing employees can also be overlooked. This is an important factor in any workplace as strategies change and providing the right skills for those strategies is imperative to success.

Commitment – It is true to say that an interim manager is only as good as their last contract. So they should have a strong work ethic and agree upfront what is expected.

Availability – When hiring an interim you could, if you are lucky, have them working for you immediately. I have been recruited in days before. As highly experienced individuals, interim directors can also dive in quickly and start adding value straight away. The interim can also be recruited to work to your business needs – full time, part time or on a project basis which can be helpful when managing costs.

Return on Investment – Interim managers provide added value by using their extensive skills, expertise and knowledge base to help businesses deliver on a specific outcome.

Interim Directors are extremely beneficial for businesses who are in need of immediate help on a specific project or to fill a resource gap until it’s feasible to bring in the right resource replacement. A good interim will put projects in place quickly and effectively. Their purpose is to effect change and their role is to speak openly and highlight what a business should or shouldn’t do to achieve its goals.

Are you looking for an Interim Director?

As an accomplished Marketing Director with 20 years’ experience across various sectors including; retail, education, hotel and leisure, pharmaceutical, central government and the regeneration, construction and house building industry, I have the experience to help you move your marketing efforts forward.

So if you are looking for a pair of hands for a short-term project or a require input on a more strategic level then please do get in touch*.

*Minimum contract of 3 months applies